Song of Long Ago by Edith Nesbit
The poem is a nostalgic reflection on past loves. It describes the beauty of nature in the spring, where the narrator and their first love lingered in a lane, kissing and parting ways. The poem then shifts to a later time, when the narrator parted with their last love in a gas-lit street, surrounded by a crowd, with tears shed for the inevitable passing of years.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Historical · 203 words
First lines
Long ago, long ago, When the hawthorn buds were pearly And the birds sang, late and early, All the songs that lovers know, How we lingered in the lane, Kissed and parted, kissed again, Parted, laggard foot and slow! What a pretty world we knew Dressed in moonlight, dreams and dew, Long ago, my first sweet sweetheart, Long ago!
Long ago, long ago, When the wind was on the river Where the lights and shadows shiver, And the streets were all aglow.
In the gaudy gas-lit street We two parted, sweet, my sweet, And the crowd went to and fro, And your veil was wet with tears For the inevitable years -- Long ago, my last sweet sweetheart, Long ago!
What this Textopian page supports
Song of Long Ago is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Historical
- Length: 203 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Song of Long Ago by Edith Nesbit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, with a rhythmic and rhyming structure, typical of poetry.
- Romance — The content revolves around love, parting, and longing, which are common themes in romance.
- Historical — The repeated phrase 'long ago' suggests a setting in the past, indicating a historical element.
Tags
Children's Fiction · Fantasy · Adventure · Magic · Imagination · Friendship · Growing Up · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · British Literature · Classic · Vintage