Song of the Rail
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a past love that has been lost. The speaker reflects on memories of a romantic relationship that was intense but fleeting, comparing it to the fleeting nature of a railroad journey. The poem expresses a sense of melancholy and yearning for something that can never be regained.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Industrial · 286 words
First lines
Oh, an ugly thing is an iron rail, Black, with its face to the dust. But it carries a message where winged things fail; It crosses the mountains, and catches the trail, While the winds and the sea make sport of a sail; Oh, a rail is a friend to trust.
The iron rail, with its face to the sod, Is only a bar of ore; Yet it speeds where never a foot has trod; And the narrow path where it leads, grows broad; And it speaks to the world in the voice of God, That echoes from shore to shore.
What this Textopian page supports
Song of the Rail is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Inspirational, Industrial, Nature, Historical
- Length: 286 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Song of the Rail by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Fultons First Steamboat by James Baldwin
- The Pass Of The Sierra by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Age Of Gold by Madison Cawein
- On The Big Horn by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Red Riper Voyageur by John Greenleaf Whittier
- To The West by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality.
- Inspirational — The poem conveys a message of progress, trust, and the transformative power of the rail.
- Industrial — The poem focuses on the iron rail, a symbol of industrial advancement and connectivity.
- Nature — The poem contrasts the iron rail with natural elements like mountains, winds, and the sea.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry · Railroad · Travel · Adventure · Romance · Historical Fiction · 19th Century · Trains · Transportation · Journey · Exploration