The End of the Summer
The poem explores the themes of nostalgia, longing, and the passing of time. It describes the end of summer as a metaphor for the end of youth and innocence. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life's pleasures and the inevitability of decline and decay. The tone is melancholic and introspective, with a focus on the emotional and psychological impact of seasonal change.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Romance · 497 words
First lines
The birds laugh loud and long together When Fashion's followers speed away At the first cool breath of autumn weather. Why, this is the time, cry the birds, to stay! When the deep calm sea and the deep sky over Both look their passion through sun-kissed space, As a blue-eyed maid and her blue-eyed lover Might each gaze into the other's face.
Oh! this is the time when careful spying Discovers the secrets Nature knows. You find when the butterflies plan for flying (Before the thrush or the blackbird goes), You see some day by the water's edges A brilliant border of red and black; And then off over the hills and hedges It flutters away on the summer's track.
What this Textopian page supports
The End of the Summer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1914 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: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Romance, Philosophical
- Length: 497 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The End of the Summer by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme, meter, and imagery.
- Nature — The themes and descriptions focus heavily on natural elements and the changing seasons.
- Romance — There are metaphorical references to love and relationships, such as the comparison of the sea and sky to lovers.
- Philosophical — The text reflects on the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life, which are common themes in philosophical literature.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Nature · Seasonal · Autumn · Melancholy · Nostalgia · Reflection · Contemplation · Love · Longing · Loss