Sooner than you can Water Milk, or Cry Amen
The narrative revolves around a young boy's struggle to come to terms with the impending death of his mother, who is suffering from an unspecified illness. The story explores themes of mortality, grief, and the complexities of human emotions through the boy's inner turmoil and interactions with those around him.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1944 · Genre: Poetry, Surrealism, Satire · 287 words
First lines
Sooner than you can water milk, or cry Amen, Darkness comes, psalming, over Cards again; Some lights go on; some men go out; some men slip in; Some girls lie down, calling the beer-brown bulls to sin
And boom among their fishy fields; some elders stand With thermoses and telescopes and spy the sand Where farmers plough by night and sailors rock and rise, Tattooed with texts, between the atlantic thighs Of Mrs Rosser Tea and little Nell the Knock:
One pulls out Pam in Paris from his money-sock; One, in the bible black of his back, mothy house, Drinks paraffin and vinegar, and blinds a mouse; One reads his cheque book in the dark, & eats fish-heads; One creeps into the Lion Inn to foul the beds;
What this Textopian page supports
Sooner than you can Water Milk, or Cry Amen is listed on Textopian as a poem by Dylan Thomas, dated 1944 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Dylan Thomas
- Date: 1944 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Surrealism, Satire, Modernism, Dark Comedy
- Length: 287 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Sooner than you can Water Milk, or Cry Amen by Dylan Thomas
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- Topical Verse by O. Henry
- The Hippopotamus by T. S. Eliot
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, imagery, and sound, characteristic of poetry.
- Surrealism — The imagery and scenarios presented are dreamlike and bizarre, aligning with surrealist themes.
- Satire — The work uses humor and exaggeration to critique societal norms and behaviors.
- Modernism — The text reflects modernist themes through its experimental style and exploration of urban life.
Tags
Poetry · Wales · Literary Fiction · Short Stories · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Coming of Age · Family Dynamics · Small Town Life · Morality Tales