Drouth by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1889)

Name: Drouth
Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The poem explores the theme of unrequited love and the pain it brings to those who experience it. The speaker describes a person who has been suffering from drought, implying emotional dryness and barrenness. This individual's heart is compared to a parched land, devoid of nourishing rain, symbolizing the absence of love and affection in their life.

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Literary · 169 words

First lines

Why do we pity those who weep? The pain / That finds a ready outlet in the flow / Of salt and bitter tears is blessed woe, / And does not need our sympathies. The rain / But fits the shorn field for new yield of grain; / While the red, brazen skies, the sun's fierce glow, / The dry, hot winds that from the tropics blow / Do parch and wither the unsheltered plain. / The anguish that through long, remorseless years / Looks out upon the world with no relief / Of sudden tempests or slow-dripping tears -- / The still, unuttered, silent, wordless grief / That evermore doth ache, and ache, and ache -- / This is the sorrow wherewith hearts do break.

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Drouth is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1889 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Date: 1889 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Literary, Psychological
Length: 169 words
Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
Philosophical — The themes explore deep existential and emotional questions about pain and suffering.
Literary — The writing style is sophisticated and focuses on the human condition, making it a work of literary merit.
Psychological — The content delves into the inner emotional states and mental anguish of individuals.