Upon the Sand by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of lost love and longing. The speaker reflects on a past relationship that has ended, and they are left to ponder what could have been. The "sand" in the title serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of human connections and the impermanence of love. Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses a deep sense of yearning and nostalgia for a love that is now lost.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1882 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Philosophical · 166 words
First lines
All love that has not friendship for its base / Is like a mansion built upon the sand. / Though brave its walls as any in the land, / And its tall turrets lift their heads in grace; / Though skilful and accomplished artists trace / Most beautiful designs on every hand, / And gleaming statues in dim niches stand, / And fountains play in some flow'r-hidden place:
Yet, when from the frowning east a sudden gust / Of adverse fate is blown, or sad rains fall, / Day in, day out, against its yielding wall, / Lo! the fair structure crumbles to the dust. / Love, to endure life's sorrow and earth's woe, / Needs friendship's solid mason-work below.
Similar titles
- Sunset by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Reverie by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- The Two Loves by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Kettle by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love and its foundational elements.
- Philosophical — The text explores deep themes about the nature of love and friendship.
- Literary — The writing style is sophisticated and employs rich, descriptive language.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Spirituality · Mortality · Longing · Desire · Beauty · Melancholy
What this Textopian page supports
Upon the Sand 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, Philosophical, Literary
- Length: 166 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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