An Ode to Time
The poem explores the theme of time and its effects on human life. It describes time as a thief that steals away youth, beauty, and vitality, leaving only decay and death in its wake. The speaker laments the passing of time, mourning the loss of loved ones and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. Despite this, the poem also touches on the idea that time can be transcended through art and memory, suggesting that even as our physical bodies succumb to the ravages of time, our spirits can live on through the creative works we leave behind.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Reflective · 481 words
First lines
Ho! sportsman Time, whose chargers fleet The moments, madly driven, Beat in the dust beneath their feet Sweet hopes that years have given; Turn, turn aside those reckless steeds, Oh! do not urge them my way; There's nothing that Time wants or needs In this contented by-way.
You have down-trodden, in your race, So much that proves your power, Why not avoid my humble place? Why rob me of my dower? With your vast cellars, cavern deep, Packed tier on tier with treasures, You would not miss them should I _keep_ My little store of pleasures.
What this Textopian page supports
An Ode to Time is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Reflective, Romantic, Classical
- Length: 481 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Similar titles
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- The Wind Of Sorrow Sonnets by Henry Van Dyke
- Life by W. B. Yeats
- From Spring Days To Winter by Oscar Wilde
- The Bliss Of Sorrow by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Isaura by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep questions about time, existence, and the human condition.
- Reflective — The narrative voice reflects on personal experiences and emotions related to the passage of time.
- Romantic — The language and imagery evoke a sense of longing and emotional depth.
Tags
Philosophical · Poetic · Reflective · Contemplative · Meditative · Timelessness · Ephemeral · Existential · Melancholic · Nostalgic · Romantic · Idealistic