The Harp's Song by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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)
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- Work identity for The Harp's Song by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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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