A Lament by Charles Kingsley (1870)
The lament of the old man is a poem written by Charles Kingsley that describes the sadness and despair of an elderly man who has lost his wife, his home, and his livelihood. The poem begins with the speaker describing how he used to be a happy and contented man, but now he feels like a "wreck" and is filled with sorrow and regret. He laments that he was once a strong and healthy man, but now he is weak and frail, and his body is failing him. The poem ends with the speaker expressing his hope that he will be reunited with his wife in heaven, where they can finally be together again.
By Charles Kingsley · First published 1870 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama · 97 words
First lines
The merry merry lark was up and singing, And the hare was out and feeding on the lea; And the merry merry bells below were ringing, When my child's laugh rang through me.
Now the hare is snared and dead beside the snow-yard, And the lark beside the dreary winter sea; And the baby in his cradle in the churchyard Sleeps sound till the bell brings me.
Eversley, 1848.
What this Textopian page supports
A Lament is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Kingsley, dated 1870 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Kingsley
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama, Tragedy
- Length: 97 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Lament by Charles Kingsley
- 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 A Lament?
- How does this poem by Charles Kingsley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Elegiacs by Charles Kingsley
- Elegy by D. H. Lawrence
- Second April Elegy Before Death by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Elegy Unfinished by Dylan Thomas
- The Plaintive Song Of A Bird Recalls To Him His Own Keener Sorrow by Francesco Petrarca
- Obsequial Ode by D. H. Lawrence
Genres
- Historical Fiction — Charles Kingsley was known for his historical novels, and 'A Lament' reflects a historical setting and context.
- Romance — The book captures romantic elements and relationships between characters as part of its plot.
- Drama — The book offers conflict and emotional tension, characteristic of dramatic works.
- Tragedy — As the title suggests, 'A Lament' has elements of tragedy, revolving around sorrowful and unfortunate events.
Tags
poetry · lament · grief · loss · nature · reflection · sorrow · melancholy · human experience · emotion · beauty · transience