All Souls by Edith Wharton (1907)
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the connection between the living and the dead on All Souls' Night. The speaker invites their loved one to walk among the graves, where the dead can hear and see. The poem describes the dead rising from their graves, yearning for life and human connection. The living are encouraged to warm the blood of the dead and give them youth again. The dead, in turn, remember their past lives and pains, and the living are reminded of their own mortality. Ultimately, the poem concludes with the realization that the living will soon join the dead, and that they should cherish their time together.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1907 · Genre: Poetry, Gothic, Romantic · 830 words
First lines
I
A THIN moon faints in the sky o'erhead, / And dumb in the churchyard lie the dead.
What this Textopian page supports
All Souls is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Wharton, 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 Wharton
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Gothic, Romantic, Horror
- Length: 830 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for All Souls by Edith Wharton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, with a rhythmic and rhyming structure.
- Gothic — The work features elements of the supernatural, death, and the macabre, common in Gothic literature.
- Romantic — The work explores themes of love and passion, typical of Romantic literature.
- Horror — The work contains elements of fear and the supernatural, characteristic of Horror literature.
Tags
Gothic Fiction · Romance · Mystery · Supernatural · Ghost Story · Haunted House · Family Secrets · Dark Past · Tragic Love · Forbidden Love · Social Class · Wealth and Privilege