Help! Poetry Stuff...?

Question

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow--
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shrudder comes o'er me--
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee so well--
Long, long I shall rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met—
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?--
With silence and tears.

You know when the poet says that he feels the shame... what does he mean? why is he embarassed?

Answer 1

he was seeing a married or betrothed woman and shares in the shame,, meaning whenever he hears her name he remembers that he was part of a betrayal. No one knows about their relationship, but it has ended and he is ashamed of taking part in an adulterous relationship. When he sees her years later he must remain silent so know one will know, but he mourns the loss of their relationship inside.

JMO

Answer 2

It says "light is thy fame" which must mean that she's lost her reputation - perhaps through being unfaithful to her husband ("thy vows are all broken"). Therefore she's openly talked about as a social outcast, "they name thee before me" and he feels the shame of having had a relationship with her in the past, despite the fact that no-one else is aware of it.

Answer 3

This is the story of an extramarital affair. They met in secret, and share in the shame.

Answer 4

I think he feels shame because she/he, the person it's about, died. The line "in silence I grieve," i think that means grieve like after a funeral or death. And the poet feels that he/she is responcible.

Answer 5

i did not understand