Summer's Obsequies
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the passing of summer. It describes the season's final days, with the sun setting over a landscape that is both beautiful and melancholic. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death, using imagery and metaphor to convey the sense of loss and longing that accompanies the end of an era.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Elegy · 149 words
First lines
The gentian weaves her fringes, The maple's loom is red.
My departing blossoms Obviate parade.
A brief, but patient illness, An hour to prepare; And one, below this morning, Is where the angels are.
It was a short procession, -- The bobolink was there, An aged bee addressed us, And then we knelt in prayer.
What this Textopian page supports
Summer's Obsequies 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, Elegy, Spiritual, Symbolism
- Length: 149 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The poem prominently features elements of nature, such as flowers, bees, and the changing seasons.
- Elegy — The theme revolves around mourning and a farewell to summer, akin to a funeral or lament.
- Spiritual — References to angels and prayer suggest a spiritual or religious undertone.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Death · Mortality · Seasonal Change · Summer · Obsequies · Funeral Rites · Loss · Grief · Melancholy · Solitude