The Harp's Song
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a past love that has been lost. The speaker describes the harp's song as a melancholic melody that evokes memories of a bygone era, recalling a romantic relationship that has faded with time. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning and sadness, emphasizing the transience of human connections and the inevitability of loss.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Symbolism · 192 words
First lines
All day, all day in a calm like death The harp hung waiting the sea wind's breath.
When the western sky flushed red with shame At the sun's bold kiss, the sea wind came.
Said the harp to the breeze, Oh, breathe as soft As the ring-dove cooes from its nest aloft.
I am full of a song that mothers croon When their wee ones tire of their play at noon.
What this Textopian page supports
The Harp's Song 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, Romantic, Symbolism, Nature, Philosophical
- Length: 192 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Harp's Song 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 The Harp's Song?
- How does this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Always At Sea by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Interlude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Song by Edna St Vincent Millay
- To Gertrude by Madison Cawein
- The Younger Born by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Reverie by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Romantic — Themes of love and emotional expression are central to the work.
- Symbolism — The harp and the wind are used as symbols to convey deeper meanings about love and emotion.
- Nature — The natural elements like the sea wind and the sun are integral to the setting and mood.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Nature · Music · Imagery · Symbolism · Feminine · Emotional · Introspective · Melancholic · Nostalgic