It was Upon by Edward Thomas (1917)
The poem opens on a July evening, where the speaker stands at a stile, observing a lush landscape that evokes feelings of renewal and potential. The setting is vibrant, characterized by a "second Spring" that suggests a rebirth or rejuvenation of the earth. A stranger, who appears to be a wandering figure, comments on the promise of a "lattermath," indicating a fruitful outcome or harvest that will follow this period of growth. The speaker reflects on their own feelings of desire and longing, paralleling the fertile landscape with their own aspirations. The imagery of the earth is rich and expansive, symbolizing future possibilities that the speaker feels they possess. However, there is an underlying tension as the speaker grapples with the passage of time and the inevitability of change. As the poem progresses, the speaker recalls the stranger's words after many years, contemplating the significance of the "lattermath" in relation to their own life experiences. The mention of "hoar Spring" introduces a sense of nostalgia and the weight of time, prompting the speaker to question what the future holds after this period of growth and promise. The themes of time, memory, and the cyclical nature of life are central to the work. The speaker's reflections serve as a meditation on the transient beauty of the present moment and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. The imagery of the landscape becomes a metaphor for personal growth and the complexities of human desire, as the speaker navigates their own journey through time and experience. Ultimately, the poem encapsulates a moment of introspection, where the speaker confronts their aspirations against the backdrop of nature's cycles. The interplay between the external world and internal emotions creates a poignant exploration of hope, longing, and the passage of time, leaving the reader to ponder the implications of the "lattermath" in their own lives.
By Edward Thomas · First published 1917 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 123 words
First lines
It was upon a July evening.
At a stile I stood, looking along a path Over the country by a second Spring Drenched perfect green again. "The lattermath Will be a fine one. " So the stranger said, A wandering man. Albeit I stood at rest, Flushed with desire I was. The earth outspread, Like meadows of the future, I possessed.
And as an unaccomplished prophecy The stranger's words, after the interval Of a score years, when those fields are by me Never to be recrossed, now I recall, This July eve, and question, wondering, What of the lattermath to this hoar Spring?
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It was Upon is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edward Thomas, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edward Thomas
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Romanticism, Reflective Poetry
- Length: 123 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work features a strong emphasis on personal emotion and imagery, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — The poem explores themes of nature and the changing seasons, reflecting on the beauty of the landscape.
- Philosophical Poetry — The text contemplates deeper existential questions and the passage of time, indicative of philosophical themes.
- Romanticism — The focus on individual experience and the beauty of nature aligns with Romantic literary ideals.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Simile · Alliteration · Assonance · Consonance · Free Verse · Stream-of-Consciousness · Realism