To One Hated
To One Hated - meaning Summary
Hate as Failed Love
The poem argues that hatred is essentially love gone astray. The speaker imagines an alternate path where chance led to love instead of hate, and regrets how affection became bitterness. It contrasts what each gesture might have been—kisses instead of cold words, tenderness instead of scorn—and reflects on hatred’s deep entwinement with the self while lamenting the missed possibility of sweet, faithful love.
Read Complete AnalysesHate is only Love that has missed its way. Had it been when I came to the valley where the paths parted asunder, Chance had led my feet to the way of love, not hate, I might have cherished you well, have been to you fond and faithful, Great as my hatred is, so might my love have been great. Each cold word of mine might have been a kiss impassioned, Warm with the throb of my heart, thrilled with my pulse's leap, And every glance of scorn, lashing, pursuing, and stinging, As a look of tenderness would have been wondrous and deep. Bitter our hatred is, old and strong and unchanging, Twined with the fibres of life, blent with body and soul, But as its bitterness, so might have been our love's sweetness Had it not missed the waystrange missing and sad!to its goa
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