The Travail of Passion
The Travail of Passion - meaning Summary
Suffering as Sacred Passion
The poem presents earthly suffering as part of a sacred, transformational passion. Using Christian imagery—wounds, thorns, vinegar, Kedron—the speaker links mortal pain to an 'immortal passion' entering human flesh. The final lines imagine consoling the suffering through tender, devotional gestures: loosening hair, letting perfume fall, offering flowers. The tone suggests acceptance and reverence, portraying pain as a communal, redemptive experience rather than mere torment.
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