Hare Drummer by Edgar Lee Masters
The poem reflects on nostalgia and the passage of time, evoking memories of youthful experiences and camaraderie during autumn. The speaker reminisces about gathering with friends for cider and hazelnuts, highlighting the joy and simplicity of those moments. The imagery of nature, such as the walnut tree and autumn smoke, serves to deepen the sense of longing for the past. The speaker questions the whereabouts of those companions, emphasizing a sense of loss and the inevitable changes that come with time. The work captures the bittersweet essence of memory, blending the beauty of nature with the melancholy of absence. Through vivid descriptions and reflective questioning, it explores themes of friendship, nostalgia, and the fleeting nature of youth. The speaker's connection to the landscape further illustrates how memories are intertwined with specific places, creating a poignant sense of yearning for a time that can never be reclaimed.
By Edgar Lee Masters · First published 1916 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nostalgic Literature, Nature Poetry · 184 words
First lines
Do the boys and girls still go to Siever's / For cider, after school, in late September?
Or gather hazel nuts among the thickets / On Aaron Hatfield's farm when the frosts begin?
For many times with the laughing girls and boys / Played I along the road and over the hills / When the sun was low and the air was cool, / Stopping to club the walnut tree / Standing leafless against a flaming west.
Now, the smell of the autumn smoke, / And the dropping acorns, / And the echoes about the vales / Bring dreams of life. They hover over me.
What this Textopian page supports
Hare Drummer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edgar Lee Masters, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edgar Lee Masters
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nostalgic Literature, Nature Poetry, American Regionalism, Modernist Poetry
- Length: 184 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Hare Drummer by Edgar Lee Masters
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work features personal reflections and emotional expressions, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nostalgic Literature — The themes revolve around memories and longing for the past, evoking nostalgia.
- Nature Poetry — The imagery of nature and seasonal changes is prominent throughout the text.
- American Regionalism — The setting and cultural references reflect specific American regional experiences.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Symbolism · Nature Imagery · Mortality · Existentialism · Free Verse · Stream-of-Consciousness · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Individualism