In Memory of Saretta Deakin
The poem is a lamentation of the death of a loved one, likely the speaker's mother. It describes the emotional devastation and grief that follows her passing, with vivid imagery of an empty house, cold hearts, and withered flowers. The speaker reflects on the memories of their mother's love and presence, now lost forever. The poem also touches on the idea that love is immortal and that the pain of loss is a necessary price to pay for the joy of having loved.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1901 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,085 words
First lines
_Who Died on October 25th_, 1899.
THERE was a day, A horrible Autumn day, When from her home, the home she made for ours And that day made a nightmare of white flowers And folk in black who whispered pityingly, They carried her away; And left our hearts all cold And empty, yet with such a store to hold Of sodden grief the slow drops still ooze out, And, falling on all fair things, they wither these.
What this Textopian page supports
In Memory of Saretta Deakin is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1901 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: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 1,085 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In Memory of Saretta Deakin 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 Memory of Saretta Deakin?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is primarily aimed at young readers, with a focus on adventure and moral lessons.
- Fantasy — The story incorporates elements of magic and supernatural phenomena.
- Adventure — The plot involves a series of exciting events and challenges.
Tags
Autobiographical · Biography · Memoir · Non-Fiction · Literary Criticism · Victorian Era · British Literature · Women's Studies · Feminism · Social History · Family Relationships · Marriage