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" ...at times I almost dream
I, too, have spent a life the sages' way,
And tread once more familiar paths. Perchance
I perished in an arrogant self-reliance
Ages ago; and in that act, a prayer
For one more chance went up so earnest, so
Instinct with better light let in by death,
That life was blotted out-not so completely
But scattered wrecks enough of it remain,
Dim memories, as now, when once more seems
The goal in sight again..."
--"Paracelsus," Robert Browning
This poem as I would like to interpret without glossing over actual detailed studies on the internet.
The subject of the poem, says many times he has felt, dreamt, that just like sages, he has spent a meaningful life, and has had a feeling of deja vu, a premonition of past births, similar situations, multiple times.
Unfortunately he died, a long time back, in a previous life, in a life where he could not finish the goals, he was too over confident, but when the moment came to die, he realized, and prayed to God for one more chance. The moment of death enlightened him, this light which was led in by death, made him yearn for more lives where he could correct his mistakes and be with the ones he loved so dearly, once more.
Hence, this life was not really completely eradicated by that death. It could not be blotted out completely, but bits and parts of it remained, as sad memories, in his re-incarnation, and this re-birth, now he sees the goal in his sights again. He sees the person he loved again, and he has a chance to get what he lost in his past life again.
Hey! I hope you are still around and well. I have registered here just to say Thank You for your interpretation of this short piece by Robert Browning.
Hey! I hope you are still around and well. I just wanted to say Thank You for this beautiful interpretation of that poem.