The Broken Tryst by James Russell Lowell

A person returns to a location they once enjoyed with a lover who has since departed. The autumn backdrop—leaves falling, overcast skies—amplifies the sting of that loss, and by the end, the speaker wishes they could vanish completely instead of enduring the weight of those memories.

Inconstant refers to being fickle or unfaithful — lacking the ability to remain fixed or loyal. Lowell uses this term to liken the fallen leaves, which float wherever the wind blows, to a lover who departed the relationship with similar carelessness.

A tryst refers to a secret or private meeting between lovers. A broken tryst signifies a promise to meet that was not fulfilled. The title sets the tone for the entire poem: the speaker finds themselves in a location where they anticipated being with someone, but that person either did not arrive — or, more generally, did not remain.

The final wish—to "whirl away" with the leaves to a place where "no memory could find me"—feels more like a desire for emotional relief than a straightforward wish for death. The speaker seeks an escape from grief, not outright death. However, the imagery is dark enough for readers to interpret it in both ways, and Lowell leaves room for either interpretation.

The poem uses an ABAB rhyme scheme in each stanza: together / blue / weather / you and behind me / hem / find me / them. This back-and-forth rhyme creates a soft, melodic flow that stands in stark contrast to the serious themes explored in the poem.

Autumn is the season of change and release — leaves drift down, colors fade from the landscape, and the year approaches its conclusion. It sets the ideal scene for a poem about loss and abandonment. This stark transformation also highlights the warmth of last June, emphasizing just how much has shifted since then.

The poem speaks to the absent lover — note the phrases "as you" and "your garment's hem." The speaker directly addresses someone who isn’t there, a common lyrical technique that amplifies the sense of absence.