The Voices of the City by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the urban landscape and its effects on humanity, portraying the city as a living entity that speaks through its various aspects, including architecture, nature, and human experiences. The voices of the city are depicted as a cacophony of sounds, from the whispers of lovers to the cries of the poor, creating a sense of chaos and disorder.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Urban Life · 646 words
First lines
The voices of the city-merged and swelled / Into a mighty dissonance of sound, / And from the medley rose these broken strains / In changing time and ever-changing keys.
I. Pleasure seekers, silken clad, / Led by cherub Day, / Ours the duty to be glad, / Ours the toil of play.
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme, meter, and imagery.
- Social Commentary — The themes address societal issues such as the disparity between pleasure seekers and toilers, and the moral implications of their actions.
- Urban Life — The setting and focus are on the experiences and voices within a city, highlighting various aspects of urban existence.
- Philosophical — The work delves into existential themes and the purpose of being, reflecting on the human condition and societal roles.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Urban Life · Cityscapes · Social Commentary · Philosophical Themes · Free Verse · Imagery · Symbolism · Nature Imagery · Human Condition
What this Textopian page supports
The Voices of the City is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Urban Life, Philosophical, Drama
- Length: 646 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Voices of the City by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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