Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"At Long Last" by Ada Cambridge is a poem that speaks to the idea of perseverance and persistence in the face of challenges. Ada Cambridge (1844-1926) was an English-born Australian writer who is best known for her novels and poetry and was also a prominent suffragist and advocate for women's rights. The speaker suggests that success may not always come quickly or easily, but it is worth striving for nonetheless.

The themes of the poem include perseverance, determination, the value of hard work, the rewards of achievement, and the importance of staying true to oneself. The poem celebrates the joy of reaching a long-sought goal and the sense of satisfaction that comes from hard work paying off. It encourages the reader to continue striving toward their own goals and to remember that persistence and dedication are key to success.

The poem opens with the line "Late, late, the prize is drawn, the goal attained," which sets the tone for the idea that achieving one's goals may take a long time and require a great deal of effort. The use of repetition in this line emphasizes the length of time it has taken to reach the goal.

The next line, "The effort of a life, that scarce remained," further emphasizes the idea that the journey to success has not been easy. The word "scarce" suggests that the speaker has had to work very hard and overcome significant obstacles to reach their goal.

The final lines of the poem, "Is never paid in vain," suggest that the effort and perseverance required to achieve one's goals is always worth it in the end. This idea is further emphasized by the use of repetition in the phrase "in vain," which suggests that even if the effort is difficult or seems futile at times, it is never wasted.

Overall, "At Long Last" is a poem that speaks to the idea that success is worth striving for, even if it takes a long time and requires significant effort. The use of repetition and imagery helps to emphasize the length of the journey and the value of the effort required to reach the goal

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