A Waif by Bliss Carman (1891)
In Bliss Carman's poem, "A Waif," the speaker is a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover. She is alone and heartbroken, wandering the streets of a city in search of solace. She is desperate for someone to take her in and provide her with comfort and understanding. The poem is a plea for compassion and understanding, as the speaker is in a vulnerable state and in need of help. The poem ends with the speaker asking for a place to rest her head, a place to call home.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing · 107 words
First lines
Do you know what it is to be vagrant born? / A waif is only a waif. And so, / For another idle hour I sit, / In large content while the fire burns low.
I gossip here to my crony heart / Of the day just over, and count it one / Of the royal elemental days, / Though its dreams were few and its deeds were none.
Outside, the winter; inside, the warmth / And a sweet oblivion of turmoil. Why? / All for a gentle girlish hand / With its warm and lingering good-bye.
What this Textopian page supports
A Waif is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Bliss Carman
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing, Philosophical Writing
- Length: 107 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
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- Work identity for A Waif by Bliss Carman
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The book is a collection of poems written by Bliss Carman.
- Romanticism — The book contains romantic themes and imagery, such as nature and love.
- Nature Writing — The book contains many references to nature, such as trees, flowers, and birds.
- Philosophical Writing — The book contains philosophical musings on life, love, and death.
Tags
Poetry · born · burns · content · count · crony · day · days · deeds · dreams · elemental · gentle