Sara Teasdale’s short lyric is a burst of happiness about a lover coming home. The speaker repeats “he has come, he is here” as if saying it aloud makes the joy more real. That homecoming changes how time feels: minutes are “lighter than flying foam,” hours are dancers in golden slippers, and days are young, naked runners. The images suggest speed, brightness, and celebration rather than ordinary passing time. The mood is openly joyful and almost breathless, with no conflict or doubt. By the end, the speaker’s whole world narrows to one beloved person: “In the whole world no other / Is dear as my dear!” The poem feels like a single, delighted exhale of relief and devotion.
The Return — Summary
He has come, he is here, My love has come home, The minutes are lighter Than flying foam, The hours are like dancers On gold-slippered feet, The days are young runners Naked and fleet-- For my love has returned, He is home, he is here, In the whole world no other Is dear as my dear!