When I Was Twenty by Bliss Carman
A collection of poems that explore the themes of youth, love, and mortality. The speaker reflects on their past experiences and the passage of time, often with a sense of melancholy and introspection.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Anthologies · 220 words
First lines
_It was June, and I was twenty. All my wisdom, poor but plenty, Never learned_ Festina lente. _Youth is gone, but whither went he? _
Madeline came down the orchard With a mischief in her eye, Half demure and half inviting, Melting, wayward, wistful, shy.
Four bright eyes that found life lovely, And forgot to wonder why; Four warm lips at one love-lesson, Learned by heart so easily.
We gained something of that knowledge No man ever yet put by, But his after days of sorrow Left him nothing but to die.
What this Textopian page supports
When I Was Twenty 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, Anthologies
- Length: 220 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is known for his poetry, and 'When I Was Twenty' is a collection of his poems.
- Anthologies — The work includes a compilation of numerous poems, making it fall under the anthology genre.
Tags
poetry · autobiography · memoir · coming of age · self-discovery · nature · wilderness · travel · adventure · romance · love · loss