Summary

The speaker announces gravely that an ambiguous "they" flee from him after having once walked quietly through his bedchamber (1). He notes that these creatures were once gentle and meek, but now they have become "wild" and cannot recall the times they willingly came to him, putting themselves in "danger" (4-5).

Despite his lamentable state, the speaker expresses his gratitude for his past relations. One particular time, he recalls, he had been flirtatious with a woman whom he soon won over. They shared an intimate moment of nakedness when the woman coyly asked the speaker whether he enjoyed her body.

Reminding himself that the moment was not a dream, the speaker says that he was "broad waking" during the affair (15). But he returns to his mournful state as he realizes that things are different now and that "all is turned" (16). He begins to accept his...