In Age by Edith Nesbit (1906)
The poem reflects on the passing of time and how one's perception of right and wrong changes with age. In youth, moral distinctions are clear, and life is full of beauty and wonder. However, as years go by, the lines between right and wrong become blurred, and the ability to discern truth is diminished. The speaker nostalgically recalls a time when moral truths were evident and wonders at how the young can still hear these truths.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 149 words
First lines
THE wine of life was rough and new, But sweet beyond belief, And wrong was false, and right was true- The rose was in the leaf.
In that good sunlight well we knew The hues of wrong and right; We slept among the roses through The long enchanted night.
Now to our eyes, made dim with years, Right intertwines with wrong.
How can we hear, with these tired ears, The old, the magic song?
What this Textopian page supports
In Age is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure
- Length: 149 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In Age by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In Age?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Coals Of Fire by Edith Nesbit
- Oswald Bastable And Others by Edith Nesbit
- Accidental Magic Or Dont Tell All You Know by Edith Nesbit
- May Song by Edith Nesbit
- En Tout Cas by Edith Nesbit
- Grandsire Triples by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves magical elements and supernatural events.
- Children's Literature — The story is primarily aimed at young readers.
- Adventure — The plot involves a series of exciting and risky experiences.
Tags
Victorian Era · Children's Literature · Fantasy Fiction · Time Travel · Adventure Story · Coming of Age · Self Discovery · Friendship · Family Relationships · Growing Up · Mystery Elements · Imaginative Storytelling