Romance - An Edgar Allan Poem

"Romance" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe that serves as a reflection on the nature and experience of romantic love, as well as a meditation on the art of poetry itself. The poem delves into the ephemeral qualities of love and the poetic imagination, portraying them as fleeting yet enduring influences in the speaker's life. The narrator acknowledges that he has grown older and more world-weary, but the flame of romance—both in the form of love and poetic inspiration—still manages to elevate his spirit. The poem strikes a balance between cynicism and idealism, capturing the lifelong tension between the practicalities of life and the artistic soul's eternal quest for beauty and transcendence.