Edwin Arlington Robinson's "Lisette and Eileen" is a poem about a lost or stolen love. The poem's tone reflects resentment and blame. Through the course of the poem, the narrator reveals her feelings towards Eileen.
The narrator blames Eileen for the "death" or absence of "him." The first stanza reveals that Eileen "might have said" (22) a word "When he was here alive" (1), but she never did. Because of this, Eileen has become "dead" to the narrator: "So never mind what I have been, / Or anything, -- for you [Eileen] are dead" (3-4).The narrator refutes any excuse or "anythng" that Eileen might say in protest. The narrator uses the words "never mind" to signify that there is conflict between the narrator and Eileen. This phrase also creates tension in the poem.
In stanza two, the tone of the narrator is still resentful. The narrator says, "And after this when I am there / Where he is, you'll be dying still" (5-6), implying that when the narrator dies, Eileen will be left alone. The narrator contines by stating "The rest of you be what it will" (8). This phrase is also negative toward Eileen.
Stanza three contains a question followed by three short, blunt, impersonal statements used to appease Eileen, one of which uses teh words "never mind" again. This least two lines contain a cuttting phrase: "I'd hardly wonder if your kind / Paid everything" (11-12). The use of "kind" is an insult in itself. This word degrades Eileen to a species or an object. Eileen has been removed from the compasionate human race. The word "kind" alone creates a sense of rejection and resemntment in this stanza.
Stanza four reveals that Eileen has lied to "him.": "I mean you last as long as lies. / You might have said that word, Eileen--" (12-13). This quote expresses the conflict between Eileen and the narrator. It is here that the reader begins to understand that Eileen has lied which caused the source of the narrator's negative feelings.
Stanzas five and six deal with the silence that Eileen keeps. The tone clearly reflects blame in these stanzas. The narrator says that "Your silence -- I can feel it yet, / Alive and in me, like a flame" (19-20). Stanza six explains the damaging effect of Eileen's silence: "Your silence had its way, / Without a weapon or a word" (23-24).
The tone is again very condescencding in stanza seven. The narrator says, "And I forgive you, I suppose" (28), revealing that the narrator does not actually forgive Eileen. The narrator is again appeasing Eileen like in stanza three.
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