Water Noises
Water Noises is a collection of short stories by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1925. The stories are set in rural Kentucky and explore the lives of the people living there. The stories focus on the struggles of the characters to find meaning and purpose in their lives, as well as their relationships with each other and the natural world. The stories are often lyrical and poetic, and Roberts' writing is full of imagery and symbolism. The stories explore themes of love, loss, faith, and the power of nature. The collection is a powerful and moving exploration of the human experience.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Fiction · 135 words
First lines
When I am playing by myself, And all the boys are lost around, Then I can hear the water go; It makes a little talking sound.
Along the rocks below the tree, I see it ripple up and wink; And I can hear it saying on, "And do you think? And do you think?"
A bug shoots by that snaps and ticks, And a bird flies up beside the tree To go into the sky to sing. I hear it say, "Killdee, killdee!"
Or else a yellow cow comes down To splash a while and have a drink. But when she goes I still can hear The water say, "And do you think?"
What this Textopian page supports
Water Noises is listed on Textopian as a short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Southern Gothic, Realism, Fiction
- Length: 135 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Water Noises by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- 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 Water Noises?
- How does this short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Southern Gothic first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Firefly by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Star by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- August Night by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Strange Tree by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- At The Water by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The book is set in the rural American South and explores themes of death, decay, and the supernatural.
- Realism — The book is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of its characters.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, with a narrative that is not based on real events.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · bird · boys · bug · children's poetry, american · cow · drink · flies · hear · killdee