Kisses and tears
This poem intertwines love and sorrow, using the metaphor of kisses turning to tears to explore the inevitable transience of joy. Written for a Corpus Christi event in 1886, it likely reflects a communal or performative context, yet it feels intensely personal, possibly inspired by Fisac’s own experiences as a doctor witnessing loss. The grieving mother’s lament and the natural imagery (breeze, river, sea) universalize her pain, suggesting that suffering is intrinsic to existence.
Style and Technique
Fisac employs a flowing, almost ballad-like structure with short, rhythmic stanzas that build emotional momentum. His imagery is vivid and sensory—violets exhaling perfume, clouds scattering tears—blending nature with human emotion in a Romantic vein. The repetition of "tears in the end" acts as a mournful refrain, reinforcing the poem’s central thesis. The shift from the mother’s outcry to philosophical reflection showcases his skill in balancing narrative and meditation.
Strengths
Emotional Universality: The poem’s strength lies in its ability to connect personal loss to a broader human condition, making it relatable beyond its immediate context.
Imagistic Beauty: The natural metaphors are evocative and tender, softening the starkness of grief with poetic grace.
Philosophical Depth: The closing stanzas elevate the poem from lament to contemplation, offering a bittersweet acceptance of life’s duality.
This poem intertwines love and sorrow, using the metaphor of kisses turning to tears to explore the inevitable transience of joy. Written for a Corpus Christi event in 1886, it likely reflects a communal or performative context, yet it feels intensely personal, possibly inspired by Fisac’s own experiences as a doctor witnessing loss. The grieving mother’s lament and the natural imagery (breeze, river, sea) universalize her pain, suggesting that suffering is intrinsic to existence.
Style and Technique
Fisac employs a flowing, almost ballad-like structure with short, rhythmic stanzas that build emotional momentum. His imagery is vivid and sensory—violets exhaling perfume, clouds scattering tears—blending nature with human emotion in a Romantic vein. The repetition of "tears in the end" acts as a mournful refrain, reinforcing the poem’s central thesis. The shift from the mother’s outcry to philosophical reflection showcases his skill in balancing narrative and meditation.
Strengths
Emotional Universality: The poem’s strength lies in its ability to connect personal loss to a broader human condition, making it relatable beyond its immediate context.
Imagistic Beauty: The natural metaphors are evocative and tender, softening the starkness of grief with poetic grace.
Philosophical Depth: The closing stanzas elevate the poem from lament to contemplation, offering a bittersweet acceptance of life’s duality.
Weaknesses
Sentimental Excess: The mother’s repeated exclamations risk melodrama, which might feel overwrought to some readers.
Predictable Resolution: The kiss-to-tear motif, while effective, follows a somewhat conventional arc, lacking a surprising twist or subversion.
Emotional Impact
"Kisses and Tears" is a tearjerker with a gentle touch. Its performative origins suggest it moved its 1886 audience, and its tender sorrow retains a timeless pull. For me, the interplay of love’s sweetness and loss’s sting—expressed through nature’s cycles—resonates deeply, though its piety feels slightly dated.
A well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy, and rural society in the 19th century through two biographies that should not be forgotten:
“Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0
Sentimental Excess: The mother’s repeated exclamations risk melodrama, which might feel overwrought to some readers.
Predictable Resolution: The kiss-to-tear motif, while effective, follows a somewhat conventional arc, lacking a surprising twist or subversion.
Emotional Impact
"Kisses and Tears" is a tearjerker with a gentle touch. Its performative origins suggest it moved its 1886 audience, and its tender sorrow retains a timeless pull. For me, the interplay of love’s sweetness and loss’s sting—expressed through nature’s cycles—resonates deeply, though its piety feels slightly dated.
A well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy, and rural society in the 19th century through two biographies that should not be forgotten:
“Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0
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