Parting at Morning

Parting At Morning

Round the cape of a sudden came the sea,
And the sun looked over the mountain's rim:
And straight was a path of gold for him,
And the need of a world of men for me.

Robert Browning

This short four verse poem represents the typical scene of the sailor leaving his loved one and then going out to sea. The speaker in this poem is a woman, for she is addressing a man during his departure. In the first verse the sea arrives. This could be metaphorical, for it could represent the day of shore leave. So the sea has come, the time that the speaker's loved one will leave is finally here. The second verse explains that it is morning, for the sun is just starting to appear over the mountain's rim. The third verse might suggest the fact that the sailor's adventure and trip will bring great riches. The "path of gold" could mean the finding of a treasure or the gaining of money. The last verse suggests the sadness of the speaker, and the hollow solitude that will follow the "adieu" of her loved one. The speaker has a need of the world of men, the need for a lover that she will not see in a long time. I believe this poem is just a short reconstruction of the typical scene of "goodbye". I think it is also a criticism to this scene, for many times lovers leave to never come back. Maybe the same thing could have happened to Browning himself.

Alternate interpretaion for "Parting at Morning"
Various comments for "Parting at Morning"