Horace I, 18 by Eugene Field (1893)
The poem explores the theme of childhood innocence and its loss. It describes a boy's fascination with a swallow's nest and his subsequent destruction of it, symbolizing the end of his carefree childhood. The poem also touches on the idea that children often unknowingly destroy things they do not understand, highlighting their naivety and lack of awareness.
By Eugene Field · First published 1893 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Lyric · 280 words
First lines
O Varus mine Plant thou the vine Within this kindly soil of Tibur; Nor temporal woes Nor spiritual knows The man who's a discreet imbiber.
For who doth croak Of being broke Or who of warfare, after drinking? With bowl atween us, Of smiling Venus And Bacchus shall we sing, I'm thinking.
Of symptoms fell Which brawls impel Historic data give us warning; The wretch who fights When full of nights Is bound to have a head next morning.
I do not scorn A friendly horn, But noisy toots -- I can't abide 'em! Your howling bat Is stale and flat To one who knows, because he's tried 'em!
What this Textopian page supports
Horace I, 18 is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Lyric, Satire, Romanticism
- Length: 280 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Horace I, 18 by Eugene Field
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Horace I, 18?
- How does this poem by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Rag Time Rhymes For The Times by Harry Graham
- Our Two Opinions by Eugene Field
- Horace I 11 by Eugene Field
- To Myrtilla Complaining by Franklin P. Adams
- And They Are Dumb by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Public Humour by Thiruvalluvar
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Humor — The poem uses wit and playful language to convey its themes, particularly regarding drinking and social interactions.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Satire — The poem critiques social behaviors related to drinking and relationships in a humorous manner.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Poetry · Social Commentary · Wit · Irony · Sarcasm · Cynicism · Critique of Society · Morality · Ethics · Philosophy