Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Little Elegy" is a poem by Elinor Wylie, an American poet, and novelist. The poem was first published in 1923 in her collection of poems titled "Angels and Earthly Creatures."

Explanation: 

The poem is a short elegy that mourns the loss of a child. The speaker addresses the child directly, lamenting the fact that the child has died too soon and will not experience the joys of growing up. The speaker mentions how the child was surrounded by love and how this love will be missed now that the child is gone.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. It follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme and has a regular meter.
• Imagery: The poem uses images of nature, such as "the grasses sigh" and "the moonbeams kiss the sea," to create a peaceful, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is mournful and melancholic, as the speaker reflects on the untimely death of the child.

Conclusion: 

"Little Elegy" is a poignant and moving poem that captures the sadness and grief of losing a young life. Through its simple structure and use of nature imagery, the poem conveys a sense of loss and longing for what might have been.

Poem Snippet:

"And when the solemn night has come,

And wrapt the world in darkling sleep,

Thou, with thy angel's smile, shalt roam

The starry heights and see thy mother weep."