White Iris by Bliss Carman (1912)
A poem about the fleeting nature of beauty and life, as symbolized by the white iris flower. The speaker reflects on how quickly time passes, and how the beauty of youth fades away, leaving only memories behind. The poem concludes with the lines "And so I'll keep my eyes on thee, / My dear, until thy beauty be / A memory, like the white iris, seen / In some far-off land of dreams."
By Bliss Carman · First published 1912 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Romanticism · 120 words
First lines
White Iris was a princess In a kingdom long ago, Mysterious as moonlight And silent as the snow.
She drew the world in wonder And swayed it with desire, Ere Babylon was builded Or a stone laid in Tyre.
Yet here within my garden Her loveliness appears, Undimmed by any sorrow Of all the tragic years.
How kind that earth should treasure So beautiful a thing -- All mystical enchantment, To stir our hearts in spring!
What this Textopian page supports
White Iris is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Romanticism
- Length: 120 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for White Iris by Bliss Carman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering White Iris?
- How does this poem by Bliss Carman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Promise Of The Morning Star by Amy Lowell
- Ode by Alice Meynell
- Well I Found You In The Twilit Garden by Bliss Carman
- To Richard Lovelace by Bliss Carman
- Es Una Tarde Cenicienta Y Mustia by Antonio Machado
- Child Of A Day by Alice Meynell
Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman's 'White Iris' is a piece of poetry, as indicated by its composition and rhythmic structure. It uses symbolic language, metaphors, and unrhymed verse to reveal its themes, most notably nature and its beauty, which is a characteristic feature of the poetry genre.
- Nature — The book largely focuses on the themes conveyed through natural elements symbology, with the 'White Iris' itself representing a part of the natural world. Thus, it fits well within the genre of Nature poetry.
- Romanticism — Carman's writing in 'White Iris' bears the hallmarks of Romanticism. His focus on emotion, nature, and individualism aligns well with this literary movement's key themes.
Tags
poetry · nature · flowers · iris · beauty · inspiration · melancholy · longing · desire · love · loss · grief