The speaker in these two sonnets dwells on a familiar but hard-to-name sense of loss. In the first, she feels that something essential is missing — not this or that thing, but a deeper absence. Looking back only stirs regret over hopes that never really belonged to her, yet still she chased them through life’s harsh weather. Since the past and sideways glances offer nothing, she asks a difficult question: why not turn forward again, even with tired eyes, and bear the pain patiently? The second sonnet answers with a quiet image of stars. Sirius blazes in summer; the Pole Star sits cold and fixed. They don’t lean toward each other, yet their paths are perfectly pitched within one heaven. It’s a gentle metaphor for a bond that asks no visible closeness, just a shared, wordless understanding. The mood is weary but steady, moving from inner ache to a calm, accepting wonder.
From “Later Life” — Summary
VI We lack, yet cannot fix upon the lack: Not this, nor that; yet somewhat, certainly. We see the things we do not yearn to see Around us: and what see we glancing back? Lost hopes that leave our hearts upon the rack, Hopes that were never ours yet seem’d to be, For which we steer’d on life’s salt stormy sea Braving the sunstroke and the frozen pack. If thus to look behind is all in vain, And all in vain to look to left or right, Why face we not our future once again, Launching with hardier hearts across the main, Straining dim eyes to catch the invisible sight, And strong to bear ourselves in patient pain?
IX Star Sirius and the Pole Star dwell afar Beyond the drawings each of other’s strength: One blazes through the brief bright summer’s length Lavishing life-heat from a flaming car; While one unchangeable upon a throne Broods o’er the frozen heart of earth alone, Content to reign the bright particular star Of some who wander or of some who groan. They own no drawings each of other’s strength, Nor vibrate in a visible sympathy, Nor veer along their courses each toward Yet are their orbits pitch’d in harmony Of one dear heaven, across whose depth and length Mayhap they talk together without speech.