A Rose by Emily Dickinson (1890)
The poem explores the fleeting nature of life and beauty through a rose that blooms briefly before wilting. The speaker reflects on how this ephemeral existence mirrors human experience, where joy and vitality are short-lived. The poem's tone is melancholic, highlighting the inevitability of decline and death.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Symbolism · 58 words
First lines
A ROSE.
A sepal, petal, and a thorn Upon a common summer's morn, A flash of dew, a bee or two, A breeze A caper in the trees, -- And I'm a rose!
What this Textopian page supports
A Rose is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emily Dickinson
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Symbolism, Imagery
- Length: 58 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Nature — The poem focuses on natural elements such as sepals, petals, thorns, dew, bees, and trees.
- Symbolism — The rose serves as a symbol, possibly representing beauty, transformation, or identity.
- Imagery — The poem uses vivid imagery to evoke sensory experiences related to nature.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Symbolism · Love · Death · Mortality · Beauty · Fragility · Ephemerality · Impermanence · Solitude · Longing