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Dip Quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson

“Short swallow-flights of song, that dip Their wings in tears, and skim away.” quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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“Short swallow-flights of song, that dip Their wings in tears, and skim away.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson

About This Quote

Source Poem: "The Lady of Shalott", 1842

Brief, delicate songs rise and fall, their melodies tinged with sorrow before disappearing.

In simple terms: Songs rise, dip, and fade with tears.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate fleeting beauty.

Themes

ephemerality emotion art nature

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

  • songwriting
  • performance
  • grief processing
  • mindful listening

Key Concepts

poetic imagery transience musical metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

  • What moments in life feel like fleeting songs?
  • How do you hold onto beauty after it fades?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize sadness, overlooking resilience.

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