In Absence by Edith Nesbit (1912)
The story revolves around a person who is separated from their loved one, yearning for their presence and comfort. The narrator describes the longing and loneliness, imagining the other person waking up in a strange place, sleeping alone in a lonely room, and dreaming of each other but never finding solace. The poem conveys a sense of desperation, sadness, and disconnection.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1912 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction · 216 words
First lines
WAKE, do you wake in the dark in the strange far place, Window and door not set like the ones we knew, Leaning your face through the dark for another face, Stretching your arms to the arms that are far from you, Even as I, through the depth of this darkness, do?
Sleep, do you sleep in the house in the lonely land? In the lonely room do you hear no steps draw near? Do you miss in the darkness the hand that implores your hand, See through the darkness your last dream disappear, And weep, as I weep, in the outer darkness here?
Dream, do you dream? Nay, never a dream will stay, Never a phantom is fond, or a vision kind.
What this Textopian page supports
In Absence is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 216 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In Absence by Edith Nesbit
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In Absence?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Bridal Ballad by Edith Nesbit
- Fear by Edith Nesbit
- Portents by Egerton Castle
- Fair Rosamond by Bernard Capes
- A Dirge In Gray by Edith Nesbit
- Haunted by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Romance — The story revolves around the romantic relationship between the main characters.
- Drama — The narrative is filled with emotional conflicts and dramatic turns.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context of the story are historically accurate and significant.
Tags
Gothic Fiction · Mystery · Supernatural · Family Drama · Victorian Era · Haunted House · Ghost Story · Suspense · Thriller · Classic Literature · British Literature · Children's Fiction