Tired by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1888)
The poem explores the theme of exhaustion and despair, describing a state of emotional numbness and desperation. The speaker feels drained of energy and vitality, unable to find joy or comfort in life. The poem conveys a sense of hopelessness and desperation, with the speaker longing for rest and escape from their emotional pain.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Melancholy · 277 words
First lines
I am tired to-night, and something, / The wind maybe, or the rain, / Or the cry of a bird in the copse outside, / Has brought back the past and its pain. / And I feel, as I sit here thinking, / That the hand of a dead old June / Has reached out hold of my heart's loose strings, / And is drawing them up in tune.
I am tired to-night, and I miss you, / And long for you, love, through tears; / And it seems but to-day that I saw you go -- / You, who have been gone for years. / And I seem to be newly lonely -- / I, who am so much alone; / And the strings of my heart are well in tune, / But they have not the same old tone.
What this Textopian page supports
Tired is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Melancholy, Nature, Nostalgia
- Length: 277 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tired 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
Similar titles
- Spent by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- The Rooms Width by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Thy Ship by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Burdened by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Galatea by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- An Etching by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Romance — The themes of love, longing, and emotional pain are central to the narrative.
- Melancholy — The tone and mood of the text are deeply sorrowful and reflective.
- Nature — References to natural elements like wind, rain, and birds are used to evoke emotions.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Women Authors · 19th Century · Victorian Era · Social Commentary · Feminism · Marriage · Motherhood · Domesticity · Patriarchy · Oppression