Mild the Mist Upon the Hill (Emily Brontë)

This section provides analysis for the poem Mild the Mist Upon the Hill by Emily Brontë. Emily Brontë’s poem Mild the Mist Upon the Hill explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and belonging, using nature as both a backdrop and a vehicle for emotional expression. The speaker reflects on their past, longing for the innocence and safety of childhood, and the peace they once felt under the protection of their father and their family home. Brontë’s use of mist, weather, and sensory imagery creates a melancholic atmosphere, suggesting a deep emotional connection to both the past and the natural world. You can read the poem below followed by detailed analysis.

Mild the Mist Upon the Hill by Emily Brontë

Mild the mist upon the hill 
Telling not of storms to-morrow; 
No, the day has wept its fill, 
Spent its store of silent sorrow. 

Oh, I’m gone back to the days of youth, 
I am a child once more, 
And ‘neath my father’s sheltering roof, 
And near the old hall door 

I watch this cloudy evening fall 
After a day of rain: 
Blue mists, sweet mists of summer pall 
The horizon’s mountain-chain. 

The damp stands in the long, green grass 
As thick as morning’s tears; 
And dreamy scents of fragrance pass 
That breathe of other years.

Analysis of the Poem

Context and Overview

Emily Brontë (1818–1848) is best known for her novel Wuthering Heights, but her poetry, which often explores themes of isolation, nature, and intense emotions, also provides insight into her inner world. "Mild the Mist Upon the Hill" reflects a yearning for the past and a longing for a time of emotional security, themes that echo in much of Brontë’s work. In this poem, the natural world becomes a mirror for the speaker's inner emotional state, suggesting how deeply our sense of belonging is intertwined with our relationship to nature and the people who shape our formative years.

Form and Structure

The poem consists of four quatrains with a regular ABAB rhyme scheme, which gives the poem a rhythmic and meditative quality. This steady, predictable structure contrasts with the emotional turbulence the speaker expresses in the content. The simplicity of the form suggests a return to something uncomplicated, perhaps the speaker’s desire for a return to childhood innocence or emotional peace.

The use of regular stanza breaks and rhyme also mirrors the passage of time—reflecting a steady, gentle flow of thoughts as the speaker moves through their reflection on the past. This provides a sense of calm that contrasts with the internal longing for a time that is gone, reinforcing the idea of nostalgia as both peaceful and painful.

Imagery and Language

Brontë’s use of nature imagery in "Mild the Mist Upon the Hill" is central to its emotional impact. The “mist upon the hill” at the start of the poem sets a soft, quiet scene, which contrasts with the stormy weather that “tells not of storms to-morrow.” The gentle mist evokes a sense of calm, and the description of it as “mild” suggests an atmosphere of tranquility, yet it also hints at something elusive or transient. The mist is a metaphor for the speaker’s nostalgia—fading, intangible, and impossible to hold on to.

The first stanza also introduces the idea of emotional release with the line “the day has wept its fill,” suggesting that the day has been one of sorrow, yet it is now over. The “silent sorrow” points to a sorrow that is deeply personal and unspoken, one that has been absorbed into the landscape. This establishes an emotional tone for the poem, where nature reflects the inner emotional state of the speaker.

The second stanza introduces a powerful shift: “Oh, I’m gone back to the days of youth, / I am a child once more.” Here, the speaker expresses a longing for the past, wishing to return to a time of safety and innocence under the protection of their father. This emotional regression is intensified by the image of being “beneath my father’s sheltering roof” and “near the old hall door,” which symbolises the safety and familiarity of home. The “old hall door” suggests a place of belonging, perhaps not just physical, but also emotional, representing the security and comfort the speaker feels as they revisit these memories.

In the third stanza, the imagery of “blue mists, sweet mists of summer” envelops the “horizon’s mountain-chain.” The mist in this instance is associated with the sweetness of summer, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss. The mountains, which typically symbolise stability and permanence, are veiled in mist, symbolising how the passage of time obscures the clarity of the past, yet the emotional attachment to it remains vivid.

The fourth stanza continues the theme of memory and longing. The phrase “the damp stands in the long, green grass / As thick as morning’s tears” uses tactile and visual imagery to evoke a sense of mourning and melancholy. The “morning’s tears” could symbolise the sadness of lost time, and the “long, green grass” may represent the passage of time itself. The “dreamy scents of fragrance” passing through the air invoke a sensory nostalgia, a connection to the past that is both fleeting and powerful. The mention of “other years” reinforces the idea that the speaker is looking back at a time that is irretrievably lost.

Themes of Belonging and Nostalgia

The central theme of "Mild the Mist Upon the Hill" is the speaker’s longing for a time when they felt emotionally secure and connected to their family and home. The imagery of the mist and the references to childhood and the father’s “sheltering roof” suggest that the speaker feels a deep sense of displacement or loss. The mist can be seen as a metaphor for the passage of time, which has clouded the speaker’s emotional landscape, making the past feel both near and distant.

The idea of belonging is explored through the speaker’s memories of home and family. The “old hall door” serves as a symbol of both the speaker’s personal history and the connection to their roots. This sense of belonging is not just physical but also emotional, as the speaker seems to yearn for a time when they felt protected and understood. The warmth of childhood, symbolised by the father’s sheltering presence, contrasts with the melancholic tone of the poem, where the speaker is aware that this sense of belonging is lost to time.

Symbolism 

The mist is a key symbol in the poem, representing both the beauty and the transience of memory. It obscures the landscape, much like how the speaker’s connection to their past is now blurred by time. The mist is not a destructive storm, but a mild and gentle presence, suggesting that the past can still be cherished, even as it is veiled in a soft sadness.

Summary

Emily Brontë’s Mild the Mist Upon the Hill is a deeply introspective poem that explores the themes of nostalgia, loss, and the desire for belonging. The speaker’s yearning for a return to childhood and the comfort of family reflects a universal longing for emotional security, while the imagery of nature provides a poignant backdrop to these feelings. Through the use of mist, scent, and tactile imagery, Brontë powerfully conveys how the passage of time can blur and obscure our connection to the past, even as it continues to shape our emotional landscape. The poem captures the bittersweet beauty of memory and the longing for a time when belonging felt simple and secure.

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Belonging Poetry Anthology Poems here.