Question

Prevision

By Aline Kilmer
I know you are too dear to stay,
You are so exquisitely sweet:
My lonely house will thrill someday
To echoes of your eager feet.
I hold your words within my heart,
So few, so infinitely dear,
Watching your fluttering hands I start
At the corroding touch of fear.
A faint, unearthly music rings
From you to Heaven -- it is not far!
A mist about your beauty clings
Like a thin cloud before a star.
My heart shall keep the child I knew,
When you are really gone from me,
And spend its life remembering you
As shells remember the lost sea.
3. What is this poem about?
4. What is the speaker's tone?
Explain your answer using textual evidence.

Answer 1

The poem 'Prevision' by Aline Kilmer is a contemplation of the anticipated loss of a cherished child, mixing imagery of beauty with a somber tone of melancholic acceptance. The speaker expresses deep admiration for the child while acknowledging the inevitability of parting.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding 'Prevision' by Aline Kilmer

The poem 'Prevision' by Aline Kilmer contemplates the impermanence of life and the anticipation of loss, likely of a beloved child. The speaker cherishes the moments with the child, enveloped in fear of the eventual departure. This loss is both accepted and lamented in a manner that captures the beauty and tragedy of the child's fleeting presence. The speaker uses imagery of 'echoes of eager feet' and a 'mist about your beauty' to convey a sense of presence that will soon transition to a cherished memory. The tone is one of melancholic acceptance; while there is a deep affection and admiration for the child, there is also a somber acknowledgement of the inevitable separation.

Textual evidence supporting the speaker's tone includes phrases like 'a mist about your beauty clings like a thin cloud before a star' and 'my heart shall keep the child I knew'. These lines reflect a tender yet sorrowful recognition of the transition from physical presence to enduring memory, suggesting an impending farewell and a resolve to carry on with the cherished memories intact.