He never could have her in this world, but why should he not hope for it in the future world?
He whispers into her dead ear his wish, and he puts a flower into her dead hand, thinking, "When she wakes up, in another life, she will see that flower, and remember what I said to her, and how much I loved her." That is the mere story.

But we must understand that the greatness of the love expressed in the poem is awakened by an ideal of innocence and sweetness and goodness, and the affection is of the soul--that is to say, it is the love of beautiful character, not the love of a beautiful face only, that is expressed.
EVELYN HOPE Beautiful Evelyn Hope is dead! Sit and watch by her side an hour.
That is her book-shelf, this her bed; She plucked that piece of geranium-flower, Beginning to die too, in the glass; Little has yet been changed, I think: The shutters are shut, no light can pass Save two long rays through the hinge's chink.
Sixteen years old when she died! Perhaps she had scarcely heard my name; It was not her time to love; beside, Her life had many a hope and aim, Duties enough and little cares, And now was quiet, now astir, Till God's hand beckoned unawares,-- And the sweet white brow is all of her.
Is it too late, then, Evelyn Hope?
What, your soul was pure and true, The good stars met in your horoscope, Made you of spirit, fire and dew-- And just because I was thrice as old And our paths in the world diverged so wide, Each was naught to each, must I be told?
We were fellow mortals, naught beside?
No, indeed! for God above, Is great to grant, as mighty to make, And creates the love to reward the love: I claim you still, for my own love's sake! Delayed it may be for more lives yet, Through worlds I shall traverse, not a few: Much is to learn, much to forget, Ere the time be come for taking you.
But the time will come,--at last it will, When, Evelyn Hope, what meant (I shall say) In the lower earth, in the years long still, That body and soul so pure and gay?
Why your hair was amber, I shall divine, And your mouth of your own geranium's red-- And what you would do with me, in fine, In the new life come in the old one's stead.
I have lived (I shall say) so much since then, Given up myself so many times, Gained me the gains of various men, Ransacked the ages, spoiled the climes; Yet one thing, one, in my soul's full scope, Either I missed or itself missed me: And I want and find you, Evelyn Hope! What is the issue?
let us see! I loved you, Evelyn, all the while! My heart seemed full as it could hold; There was space and to spare for the frank young smile, And the red young mouth, and the hair's young gold.
So, hush,--I will give you this leaf to keep: See, I shut it inside the sweet cold hand! There, that is our secret: go to sleep! You will wake, and remember, and understand.
No other poet has written so many different kinds of poems on this subject as Browning; and although I can not quote all of them, I must not neglect to make a just representation of the variety.

Here is another example: the chief idea is again the beauty of truthfulness and fidelity, but the artistic impression is quite different.
A simple ring with a single stone, To the vulgar eye no stone of price: Whisper the right word, that alone-- Forth starts a sprite, like fire from ice.
And lo, you are lord (says an Eastern scroll) Of heaven and earth, lord whole and sole Through the power in a pearl.
A woman ('tis I this time that say) With little the world counts worthy praise: Utter the true word--out and away Escapes her soul; I am wrapt in blaze, Creation's lord, of heaven and earth Lord whole and sole--by a minute's birth-- Through the love in a girl! Paraphrased, the meaning will not prove as simple as the verses: Here is a finger ring set with one small stone, one jewel.

It is a very cheap-looking stone to common eyes.

But if you know a certain magical word, and, after putting the ring on your finger, you whisper that magical word over the cheap-looking stone, suddenly a spirit, a demon or a genie, springs from that gem like a flash of fire miraculously issuing from a lump of ice.