Horace IV, 1 by Eugene Field (1892)
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the passing of time. It describes a person's life from birth to death, using the metaphor of a horse's journey from its first spring to its final winter. The poem conveys a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, highlighting the fleeting nature of human existence.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Satire · 342 words
First lines
O Mother Venus, quit, I pray, / Your violent assailing; / The arts, forsooth, that fired my youth / At last are unavailing -- / My blood runs cold -- I'm getting old / And all my powers are failing!
Speed thou upon thy white swan's wings / And elsewhere deign to mellow / With my soft arts the anguished hearts / Of swain that writhe and bellow; / And right away, seek out, I pray, / Young Paullus -- he's your fellow.
Similar titles
- Horace Ii 7 by Eugene Field
- Horace I 23 by Eugene Field
- Horace I 20 by Eugene Field
- A Paraphrase by Eugene Field
- Horace I 34 by Eugene Field
- Horace I 31 by Eugene Field
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetic forms.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyric poetry.
- Satire — The poem critiques themes of aging and romantic pursuits with a humorous tone.
- Classical Literature — The references to mythological figures and themes align with classical literary traditions.
Tags
Poetry · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Wit · Irony · Playful · Lighthearted · Whimsical · Nostalgic · Rural Life · American Literature
What this Textopian page supports
Horace IV, 1 is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1892 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: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Satire, Classical Literature, Romanticism
- Length: 342 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Horace IV, 1 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