T.S. Eliot

Before Morning

Before Morning - meaning Summary

Dawn's Mingled Renewal and Decay

The poem observes early morning light and a window of flowers to consider the close coexistence of renewal and decay. Dawn illuminates both fresh blooms and withered petals, and fragrance links present and past. Repetition of contrasting images emphasizes a quiet acceptance of life’s cycle, where beauty and decline are simultaneous parts of a single moment rather than opposing states.

Read Complete Analyses

While all the East was weaving red with gray, the flowers at the window turned toward dawn, petal on petal, waiting for the day, fresh flowers, withered flowers, flowers of dawn. This morning’s flowers and flowers of yesterday their fragrance drifts across the room at dawn, fragrance of bloom and fragrance of decay, fresh flowers, withered flowers, flowers of dawn.

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