Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a striking image: a "young sanguine" woman quietly lamenting before a veiled mirror. Her voice, too, is veiled and slow, suggesting a deep, private sorrow. This immediate scene sets a tone of hushed intimacy and profound aftermath.
The central tension emerges from the lingering traces of a feverish night. Phrases like "the fever of the marsh" and "will-o'-the-wisp of the alcove" evoke a fleeting, perhaps dangerous, passion. The personified bed, yawning in its linen sheets, seems to confess the secrets of a sleepless night, hinting at events that have left the woman in her current state of quiet despair.
One of the most arresting images appears as the fever "rises to her mauve lips / Which she bathes in milk." The "mauve" color suggests a pallor or bruising, while the act of bathing them in milk is ambiguous—is it a soothing ritual, a sign of illness, or something more unsettling? This specific, sensual detail underscores her vulnerability and the lingering physical and emotional residue of the night.
The emotional impact is amplified by the stark contrast between the woman's lament and the man's departure. As she remains, trapped in her sorrow, a "handsome man" leaves the room, arching his back and moving "away from the tears." The repetition of the opening stanza at the close of the lyrics powerfully emphasizes the cyclical nature of her suffering, suggesting that her quiet lament is not merely a moment, but an enduring state.
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