Romance by Edgar Allan Poe (1833)
The poem explores themes of love, nostalgia, and the passage of time. It begins with a personification of romance as a gentle, singing presence that evokes a sense of tranquility and beauty, reminiscent of childhood innocence. The speaker reflects on their early experiences, where a colorful bird symbolizes the joy of learning and discovery in nature. As the poem progresses, the tone shifts to one of urgency and existential contemplation. The "eternal Condor years" represent the relentless march of time, creating a sense of chaos and overwhelming pressure. The speaker feels the weight of this tumult, which distracts from the simple pleasures of life and love. In moments of calm, the speaker yearns to engage with art and creativity, yet feels guilt unless their heart resonates with genuine emotion. This tension between the desire for artistic expression and the constraints of reality underscores the complexity of romantic feelings. Ultimately, the work captures the interplay between the innocence of youth, the burdens of adulthood, and the enduring power of love and creativity amidst life's challenges.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1833 · Genre: Romanticism, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry · 193 words
First lines
Romance, who loves to nod and sing, / With drowsy head and folded wing, / Among the green leaves as they shake / Far down within some shadowy lake, / To me a painted paroquet / Hath been -- a most familiar bird --
Taught me my alphabet to say --
To lisp my very earliest word / While in the wild wood I did lie, / A child -- with a most knowing eye.
Of late, eternal Condor years / So shake the very Heaven on high / With tumult as they thunder by, / I have no time for idle cares / Through gazing on the unquiet sky.
What this Textopian page supports
Romance is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, dated 1833 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edgar Allan Poe
- Date: 1833 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romanticism, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Symbolism, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Romance by Edgar Allan Poe
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Romanticism — The poem embodies the ideals of Romanticism, focusing on emotion, nature, and individual experience.
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by personal expression and emotional depth, typical of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — Nature plays a significant role in the imagery and themes, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols, such as the 'painted paroquet' and 'shadowy lake', conveys deeper meanings and emotions.
Tags
Dark Romance · Gothic Fiction · Tragic Love Story · Poetic Prose · Melancholic Tone · Ethereal Setting · Mysterious Plot · Forbidden Love · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Romanticism · Symbolism