I Remember, I Remember - By Thomas Hood

The house where I was born

This is a very sad poem. I do not feel this way about my own life, but I can empathize with this experience and this sort of moment in time looking back at childhood with longing for a less complicated existence with fewer responsibilities and worries.

—

I Remember, I Remember
by Thomas Hood in The Portable Romantic Poets

I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!

I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The Vi’lets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,—
The tree is living yet!

I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!

I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now ’tis little joy
To know I’m further off from heav’n
Than when I was a boy.

—

I’d love to hear from you. I want to know what you think. Did you like this poem? Did any part of it resonate with you? Let me know.