Carlsbad by Eugene Field (1894)
The poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human experience. It expresses a sense of longing for a lost era of innocence and simplicity, and laments the inevitability of change and decay. The speaker's tone is one of wistfulness and resignation, acknowledging the impossibility of recapturing the past.
By Eugene Field · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Travel Literature · 760 words
First lines
DEAR Palmer, just a year ago we did the Carlsbad cure, / Which, though it be exceeding slow, is as exceeding sure; / To corpulency you were prone, dyspepsia bothered me, -- / You tipped the beam at twenty stone and I at ten stone three! / The cure, they told us, works both ways: it makes the fat man lean; / The thin man, after many days, achieves a portly mien; / And though it's true you still are fat, while I am like a crow, -- / All skin and feathers, -- what of that? The cure takes time, you know.
What this Textopian page supports
Carlsbad is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Travel Literature, Friendship, Health and Wellness
- Length: 760 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Carlsbad by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Humor — The poem uses wit and irony to discuss the experiences of the characters, particularly regarding their weight and the Carlsbad cure.
- Travel Literature — The poem reflects on a specific location, Carlsbad, and the experiences associated with it, including the scenery and local customs.
- Friendship — The central theme revolves around the bond between the narrator and Palmer, highlighting their shared experiences and camaraderie.
Tags
Travelogue · Non-fiction · Autobiographical · Humorous · Satirical · Witty · Observational · Descriptive · American Literature · 19th Century · Memoir · Personal Narrative