Piano by D.H. Lawrence (1918)
Piano is a collection of poems by D.H. Lawrence, first published in 1912. The poems explore themes of love, loss, and nostalgia, as well as the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. The collection is divided into three sections: “The Piano,” “The Garden,” and “The Sea.” In the first section, Lawrence reflects on the power of music to evoke memories and emotions, and the nostalgia he feels for his childhood home. In the second section, he explores the beauty of nature and the joy of being in the garden. In the third section, he reflects on the power of the sea to evoke feelings of awe and wonder. Throughout the collection, Lawrence’s lyrical language and vivid imagery create a powerful and moving portrait of the human experience.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1918 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Romance, Drama · 143 words
First lines
Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me; / Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see / A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings / And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.
In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song / Betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong / To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside / And hymns in the cosy parlour, the tinkling piano our guide.
So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour / With the great black piano appassionato. The glamour / Of childish days is upon me, my manhood is cast / Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.
What this Textopian page supports
Piano is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: D.H. Lawrence
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, Romance, Drama, Poetry
- Length: 143 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Piano by D.H. Lawrence
- 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
Similar titles
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- A Passing Bell by D. H. Lawrence
Genres
- Modernist Literature — D.H. Lawrence is considered a major figure in the Modernist literary movement, and Piano is a prime example of his modernist writing style, with its focus on the inner thoughts and feelings of the protagonist.
- Romance — The story of Piano follows the protagonist's romantic relationship with a woman, and the emotions and struggles that come with it.
- Drama — The story of Piano is full of dramatic moments, as the protagonist struggles with his emotions and his relationship with the woman.
- Poetry — Piano is written in a poetic style, with vivid imagery and lyrical language that evokes strong emotions in the reader.
Tags
nostalgia · memory · childhood · music · emotion · loss · family · identity · art · nature · introspection · regret