What shall we do, Cytherea? by Bliss Carman
"What Shall We Do, Cytherea?" is a poem written by Bliss Carman in 1902. The poem tells the story of a woman named Cytherea who is torn between her love for two men, one of whom represents reason and logic, while the other represents passion and emotion. The poem explores themes of love, desire, and the struggle to make choices that align with one's values and beliefs. Carman's use of imagery and symbolism adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making it a thought-provoking and memorable read.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature literature · 99 words
First lines
What shall we do, Cytherea? / Lovely Adonis is dying. / Ah, but we mourn him!
Will he return when the Autumn / Purples the earth, and the sunlight / Sleeps in the vineyard?
Will he return when the Winter / Huddles the sheep, and Orion / Goes to his hunting?
Ah, but thy beauty, Adonis, / With the soft spring and the south wind, / Love and desire!
Similar titles
- Resurgam by Bliss Carman
- The Shepherdess by Alice Meynell
- The Moon by Alice Meynell
- Hesperus Bringing Together by Bliss Carman
- Under The April Moon by Bliss Carman
- A Fireside Vision by Bliss Carman
Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is widely recognized as a prominent Canadian poet, and many of his published works consist of poetic renditions.
- Romanticism — Carman's works often revolve around themes of beauty, love and nature, which aligns strongly with the Romanticism genre.
- Nature literature — The title 'What shall we do, Cytherea?' refers to the Greek goddess of love and beauty, suggesting strong connections to themes of nature and classical mythology in the text.
Tags
poetry · symbolism · romanticism · feminist · gender · identity · relationships · desire · longing · nature · environment · spirituality
What this Textopian page supports
What shall we do, Cytherea? is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1902 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: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature literature
- Length: 99 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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