In Hospital by Edith Nesbit (1906)
The story takes place during World War I and revolves around a romantic relationship that is affected by the war. The narrator reflects on a moment in a natural setting where they should have expressed their love, but didn't. Instead, the war intervenes, and the streets of London are filled with soldiers returning from the front lines. The narrative juxtaposes the beauty of nature with the horrors of war, suggesting that love is fragile and threatened by the conflict.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Poetry, Children's Literature, Victorian Literature · 193 words
First lines
UNDER the shadow of a hawthorn brake, / Where bluebells draw the sky down to the wood, / Where, 'mid brown leaves, the primroses awake / And hidden violets smell of solitude; / Beneath green leaves bright-fluttered by the wing / Of fleeting, beautiful, immortal Spring, / I should have said, "I love you," and your eyes / Have said, "I, too. " The gods saw otherwise.
For this is winter, and the London streets / Are full of soldiers from that far, fierce fray / Where life knows death, and where poor glory meets / Full-face with shame, and weeps and turns away.
What this Textopian page supports
In Hospital is listed on Textopian as a poem 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: Poem
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Children's Literature, Victorian Literature
- Length: 193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In Hospital 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
Similar titles
- Change by Edith Nesbit
- The Guardian Angel by Edith Nesbit
- The Skylark by Edith Nesbit
- The Poor Mans Guest by Edith Nesbit
- The Promise Of Spring by Edith Nesbit
- At The Gate by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Poetry — The work is a collection of poems.
- Children's Literature — The author often writes for a younger audience.
- Victorian Literature — The work was written during the Victorian era.
Tags
Children's Literature · Hospital Story · Sickness · Recovery · Family · Relationships · Emotional Journey · Growing Up · Coming of Age · Victorian Era · Social Class · Poverty