REALISATION (At the Old Homestead)
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a past time and place. The speaker returns to their childhood home, now old and worn, but still holding memories of joy and love. They reflect on the passing of time, the fleeting nature of life, and the inevitability of decay and death. Despite this, the speaker finds comfort in the memories and emotions that linger in the old homestead, and is grateful for the realization that these intangible things are what truly matter in life.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1899 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nostalgia · 114 words
First lines
I tread the paths of earlier times / Where all my steps were set to rhymes.
I gaze on scenes I used to see / When dreaming of a vague To be.
I walk in ways made bright of old / By hopes youth-limned in hues of gold.
But lo! those hopes of future bliss / Seem dull beside the joy that _is_.
What this Textopian page supports
REALISATION (At the Old Homestead) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Nostalgia, Philosophical, Autobiographical
- Length: 114 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for REALISATION (At the Old Homestead) 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 structured in verse and employs rhyme and meter.
- Romanticism — Themes of idealized past, emotional depth, and personal reflection are prominent.
- Nostalgia — The work reflects on past experiences and compares them to the present.
- Philosophical — The text explores themes of happiness, fulfillment, and the nature of joy.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Love Story · Rural Life · Family Drama · Social Class · Marriage · Relationships · Farm Life · Country Living