One Night by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of lost love and longing. The speaker reflects on a past romantic encounter that lasted only one night, but has had a lasting impact on their life. They recall the passion and intimacy they shared with their lover, and how it awakened feelings they never knew they were capable of experiencing.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1889 · Genre: Romance, Lyric Poetry, Drama · 278 words
First lines
Was it last summer, or ages gone, That damp, dark night in the August dusk, When I waited for you by the gate alone? And the air was heavy with scents like musk. Swiftly and silently shooting down Like the lonesome light of a falling star, I saw through the shadows dense and brown, The dull red light of your fine cigar.
Like a king who taketh his own, you came Through the lowering night and the falling dew. Like one who yields to a rightful claim, I waited there in the dusk for you. Never again when the day grows late, Never again in the years to be, Shall I stand in the dark and dew, and wait, And never again will you come to me.
What this Textopian page supports
One Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1889 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Lyric Poetry, Drama, Gothic, Symbolism
- Length: 278 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for One Night by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- 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 One Night?
- How does this short story by Ella Wheeler Wilcox fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Sweet Love by Edna St Vincent Millay
- The Love Of Loves by Madison Cawein
- Amour by Georgia Douglas Johnson
- The Trio by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Under The Sheet by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Rendezvous by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Romance — The poem centers on a romantic encounter and the emotions associated with it.
- Lyric Poetry — The work is a poem that expresses personal emotions and thoughts.
- Drama — The intense emotions and dramatic imagery contribute to a dramatic tone.
- Gothic — The dark, damp night and the sense of longing and melancholy evoke a gothic atmosphere.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Passion · Desire · Infatuation · Obsession · Longing · Yearning · Sensuality · Eroticism · Intimacy