High Noon by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of a person's inner struggle between good and evil. It describes a moment of crisis when one's conscience awakens, prompting a choice between right and wrong. The speaker is torn between their higher self and their lower, more selfish nature. The poem suggests that this internal conflict occurs at "high noon," a symbol for a moment of clarity and truth.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Inspirational · 506 words
First lines
Time's finger on the dial of my life / Points to high noon! and yet the half-spent day / Leaves less than half remaining, for the dark, / Bleak shadows of the grave engulf the end.
To those who burn the candle to the stick, / The sputtering socket yields but little light. / Long life is sadder than an early death. / We cannot count on raveled threads of age / Whereof to weave a fabric. We must use / The warp and woof the ready present yields / And toil while daylight lasts. When I bethink / How brief the past, the future still more brief, / Calls on to action, action! Not for me / Is time for retrospection or for dreams, / Not time for self-laudation or remorse.
What this Textopian page supports
High Noon 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, Philosophical, Inspirational, Reflective, Spiritual
- Length: 506 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for High Noon by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse, with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery.
- Philosophical — The themes revolve around existential reflections, the passage of time, and the meaning of life.
- Inspirational — The content encourages action, self-improvement, and resilience in the face of life's challenges.
- Reflective — The narrative involves introspection and contemplation of past actions and future aspirations.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Romance · Drama · Tragedy · Love Story · Western Fiction · Gunfight · Showdown · Outlaw · Lawman · Small Town