Was there a Time by Dylan Thomas
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the passing of time, with the speaker reflecting on a past love that has been lost to death. The poem's structure and language are characterized by a sense of urgency and intensity, emphasizing the fleeting nature of human experience.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1944 · Genre: Poetry, Modernist, Philosophical · 98 words
First lines
Was there a time when dancers with their fiddles / In children's circuses could stay their troubles?
There was a time they could cry over books, / But time has set its maggot on their track.
Under the arc of sky they are unsafe.
What's never known is safest in this life.
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as rhyme, meter, and imagery.
- Modernist — The themes of existential uncertainty and the passage of time align with modernist concerns.
- Philosophical — The text explores abstract concepts such as safety, knowledge, and perception.
- Reflective — The work reflects on past experiences and the impact of time on human emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Autobiography · Memoir · Biographical · Historical · Nostalgic · Reflective · Philosophical · Existential · Psychological · Emotional · Introspective
What this Textopian page supports
Was there a Time 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, Modernist, Philosophical, Reflective
- Length: 98 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
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