The Salt Sea-Wind
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a past love that has been lost. The speaker describes the sea-wind as a messenger from the past, bringing memories of a beloved who has departed. The wind whispers secrets in the speaker's ear, reminding them of the joy and sorrow they once shared with this person.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1882 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Mythology · 188 words
First lines
When Venus, mother and maker of blisses, Rose out of the billows, large-limbed, and fair, She stood on the sands and blew sweet kisses To the salt sea-wind as she dried her hair.
And the salt sea-wind was the first to caress her To praise her beauty and call her sweet, The first of the whole wide world to possess her, She, that creature of light and heat.
Though the sea is old with its sorrows and angers, And the world has forgotten why love was born, Yet the salt sea-wind is full of the languors That Venus taught on her natal morn.
What this Textopian page supports
The Salt Sea-Wind is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1882 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: 1882 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Mythology, Nature, Philosophy
- Length: 188 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter.
- Romance — The themes revolve around love, beauty, and emotional connection.
- Mythology — The narrative references Venus, a figure from Roman mythology, and her origins.
- Nature — The setting and imagery are heavily influenced by natural elements like the sea and wind.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Nature · Sea · Wind · Imagery · Symbolism · Love · Longing · Melancholy · Nostalgia · Beauty