Final answer:
The word 'irretrievable' suggests something that is permanently lost and cannot be recovered, conveying a deep sense of finality and regret within a poetic context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word irretrievable in the context of Linda Pastan's poem Dreams, though the specific stanza is not provided in the poem excerpts, typically means something that cannot be retrieved or brought back. The use of this term within a poem often suggests a profound sense of loss or the realization that certain experiences, opportunities, or feelings, once gone, are lost forever and cannot be recaptured or restored. This conveys a deep sense of finality and can evoke emotions of regret or melancholy in the reader, as is common in reflective or contemplative poetry.