Moonrise over Tyringham
The poem is a meditation on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker reflects on how quickly the day has ended, and how the hours that once seemed so full of promise now lie empty and forgotten. Despite this, the speaker notes that night is not entirely dark, as a crescent moon rises in the autumn afternoon, bringing a sense of mercy and peace. The poem then shifts to address an unknown figure, urging them to depart and avoid the speaker's love, which would only bring ruin. The final stanzas describe the hour as a threshold between day and night, and the speaker implores it to lead the way into a new era of life, one that is closer to truth and connected to eternal powers.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1934 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophical · 782 words
First lines
NOW the high holocaust of hours is done, And all the west empurpled with their death, How swift oblivion drinks the fallen sun, How little while the dusk remembereth!
Though some there were, proud hours that marched in mail, And took the morning on auspicious crest, Crying to fortune "Back, for I prevail! " -- Yet now they lie disfeatured with the rest;
What this Textopian page supports
Moonrise over Tyringham is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Wharton, dated 1934 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: 1934 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophical
- Length: 782 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Moonrise over Tyringham by Edith Wharton
- 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 Moonrise over Tyringham?
- How does this poem by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- An Autumn Sunset by Edith Wharton
- Drinking Song by Ellen Glasgow
- A Suppliant by Ellen Glasgow
- The Mountain Pine by Ellen Glasgow
- An Autumn Sunset by Edith Wharton
- The Master Hand by Ellen Glasgow
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, with a rhythmic structure and use of poetic devices such as metaphor and imagery.
- Romanticism — The work emphasizes emotion, nature, and individual experience, typical of the Romantic literary movement.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential and metaphysical themes, questioning the nature of time, life, and death.
Tags
Romance · Novel · Classic · Literary Fiction · Historical Fiction · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Class · Wealth · Family Drama · Marriage · Love Triangle