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The poem "If all the world and love were young" is a
contemplative and nostalgiciac work that reflects on the
fleeting nature of youth, beauty, and love. In the first stanza,
the speaker imagines a world where truth is universal and love
is eternal, suggesting that under these circumstances, the
speaker would be moved to love and be loved in return.
However, the second stanza introduces a sense of loss and
impermanence, as the speaker notes that time drives the flocks
from the fields and that even the birds become silent as winter
approaches. The third stanza speaks of the fleeting nature of
beauty, as the flowers wither and the "fancy's spring" gives way
to "sorrow's fall."
The fourth stanza speaks of the material possessions that often
signify love and affection, such as gowns, shoes, and beds of
roses, but notes that these things will eventually break, wither,
and be forgotten. The final stanza returns to the theme of
youth and love, suggesting that if these things could last
forever, the speaker might be moved to love and be loved in
return.
Overall, this poem reflects on the transience of life and love,
and the way that time and change can affect our feelings and
relationships. It suggests that the things that move us and
inspire love are often fleeting and ephemeral, but that the idea
of eternal youth and love remains a tantalizing and compelling
possibility.