I grow weary of the foreign cities
The poem "I Grow Weary of the Foreign Cities" by Bliss Carman is a reflection on the exhaustion and disillusionment that can come from traveling and experiencing new places. The speaker expresses their desire to return home and escape the constant movement and change. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Carman conveys the idea that even the most exotic and exciting destinations can lose their appeal when they become repetitive and familiar.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1907 · Genre: Poetry, Travel Literature, Autobiography · 125 words
First lines
I grow weary of the foreign cities, / The sea travel and the stranger peoples. / Even the clear voice of hardy fortune / Dares me not as once on brave adventure.
For the heart of man must seek and wander, / Ask and question and discover knowledge; / Yet above all goodly things is wisdom, / And love greater than all understanding.
So, a mariner, I long for land-fall, -- / When a darker purple on the sea-rim, / O'er the prow uplifted, shall be Lesbos / And the gleaming towers of Mitylene.
What this Textopian page supports
I grow weary of the foreign cities is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Travel Literature, Autobiography, Romanticism
- Length: 125 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
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- Work identity for I grow weary of the foreign cities by Bliss Carman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- For Warmth Alone by Edna St Vincent Millay
- A Winter Piece by Bliss Carman
- A Moorish Maid by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Hadst Thou With All Thy Loveliness Been True by Bliss Carman
- Then Cautiously She Pushed The Cellar Door by Edna St Vincent Millay
- To A Man by Maxwell Bodenheim
Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is chiefly known for his work in poetry, and the title suggests introspection and reflection on travel and transient experiences, common themes in his work.
- Travel Literature — The title alludes to experiences in foreign cities, which might indicate elements of travel literature.
- Autobiography — Given Carman's propensity for infusing personal elements in his writings, the book could potentially contain autobiographical elements.
- Romanticism — Considering Bliss Carman's writing style and themes, his work often falls under the Romantic literary movement.
Tags
Nostalgia · Wanderlust · Expatriation · Disillusionment · Cultural critique · Travel literature · Poetic prose · Metaphor · Imagery · Symbolism · Melancholy · Loneliness