Song: Love Lives Beyond the Tomb Summary

In “Love Lives Beyond the Tomb,” John Clare endeavors to describe love in a general sense. He begins by stating that love can survive longer than the earth (which is doomed to end one day), and by celebrating the persistence and faithfulness of true lovers. He goes on to suggest that even when the real world is a bleak and mournful place, the dream of love can be a source of delight. Yet despite this separation from the world of things, for Clare, love’s presence fills the natural world: it can be seen in the flowers, the dew, the sky, and the warmth of spring. Indeed, nature’s youth, sweetness, and beauty make it the perfect being to give voice to love. The poem ends by repeating the first stanza, once again emphasizing love’s capacity to outlive the mortal world.