Breaking the Day in Two by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the idea of dividing one's day into two parts: a morning of worldly pursuits and an evening of spiritual contemplation. The speaker describes how they spend their mornings engaged in mundane tasks, but as the day wears on, they turn their attention to more introspective and philosophical concerns. The poem suggests that this division allows the speaker to find balance and harmony in their life.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Lullaby, Children's Literature · 266 words
First lines
When from dawn till noon seems one long day, / And from noon till night another, / Oh, then should a little boy come from play, / And creep into the arms of his mother. / Snugly creep and fall asleep, / Oh, come, my baby, do; / Creep into my lap, and with a nap / We'll break the day in two.
When the shadows slant for afternoon, / When the midday meal is over, / When the winds have sung themselves into a swoon, / And the bees drone in the clover, / Then hie to me, hie, for a lullaby -- / Come, my baby, do; / Creep into my lap, and with a nap / We'll break the day in two.
Similar titles
- Found by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Unconquered by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Unconquered by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Year Outgrows The Spring by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Island Of Endless Play by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Lifes Harmonies by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Lullaby — The themes and language are soothing and intended to lull a child to sleep, fitting the genre of a lullaby.
- Children's Literature — The content is directed towards a child, with simple language and comforting themes.
- Family — The poem centers around the relationship between a mother and her child, emphasizing familial bonds.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Romanticism · Love Poems · Nature Poetry · Spirituality · Optimism · Hope · Inspiration · Motivation · Personal Growth
What this Textopian page supports
Breaking the Day in Two is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lullaby, Children's Literature, Family, Pastoral
- Length: 266 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Breaking the Day in Two by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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