Student Question
What does the line "The petty done, the undone vast" mean in the poem "The Last Ride Together"?
Quick answer:
The line "The petty done, the undone vast" in "The Last Ride Together" signifies the contrast between the small accomplishments we achieve and the much larger, unfulfilled aspirations we hold. The narrator reflects on human persistence despite failures, emphasizing enduring hope and the desire for future fulfillment, such as his hope that his lover will love him in another life.
I thought,--All labour, yet no
less
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Bear up beneath their unsuccess
Look at the end of work, contrast
The petty done, the undone vast,
This present of theirs with the hopeful past!
I hoped she would love me; here we
ride. (www.online-literature.com)
Above is the stanza in which the line you refer to is included. The narrator of the poem points out people work hard for what they want. They keep trying, despite not being successful. There are bumps and obstacles along the way, but they must press on and be persistent and keep trying. They still hold hope. The narrator is no different; he is hopeful that his lover will love him in another life, when they are both in Heaven together.
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