Poem 2 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
Mild is the Parting Year by Walter Savage Landor reflects on the passage of time, capturing a bittersweet moment of transition from one year to the next. The poem’s gentle tone contrasts with the poet’s deeper reflections on life’s fleeting nature and the inevitability of loss.
Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) was an English writer and poet whose lyrical works are known for their emotional depth and classical style. This poem serves as a quiet meditation on time and memory.
Mild is the Parting Year by Walter Savage Landor
Mild is the parting year, and sweet
The odour of the falling spray;
Life passes on more rudely fleet,
And balmless is its closing day.
I wait its close, I court its gloom,
But mourn that never must there fall
Or on my breast or on my tomb
The tear that would have soothed it all.
My Reflections on the Poem:
In recording Mild is the Parting Year, I was struck by the understated tone that hides a deep sense of longing and acceptance. Landor’s reflections on the passage of time are quietly powerful, reminding us of the beauty and sadness of the year’s end.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
