The Urban Pan by Bliss Carman (1908)
A poem exploring the themes of urbanization and the impact it has on society. The speaker reflects on the changes that have occurred in the city, from the natural world to the built environment, and the effects it has had on human relationships. The poem is a commentary on the disconnection between people and nature, and the consequences of prioritizing progress over preservation.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1908 · Genre: Poetry, Nature · 405 words
First lines
Once more the magic days are come With stronger sun and milder air; The shops are full of daffodils; There's golden leisure everywhere. I heard my Lou this morning shout: "Here comes the hurdy-gurdy man! " And through the open window caught The piping of the urban Pan.
I laid my wintry task aside, And took a day to follow joy: The trail of beauty and the call That lured me when I was a boy. I looked, and there looked up at me A smiling, swarthy, hairy man With kindling eye -- and well I knew The piping of the urban Pan.
What this Textopian page supports
The Urban Pan is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature
- Length: 405 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Urban Pan by Bliss Carman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Urban Pan?
- How does this poem by Bliss Carman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- Fringed Gentian by Emily Dickinson
- The Spider by Emily Dickinson
- The Dreamers by Bliss Carman
- A Tempest by Emily Dickinson
- The Grass by Emily Dickinson
- The Broken Drouth by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is recognized for his contributions to Canadian poetry, and The Urban Pan is a collection of his poems.
- Nature — Carman's work frequently explored themes of natural beauty and the human connection to the natural world.
Tags
Poetry · City Life · Nature · Existentialism · Modernism · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Mythology · Fantasy · Surrealism · Dreams