Hugo's "Flower to Butterfly" by Eugene Field
The poem explores the idea that life is fleeting and ephemeral, comparing human existence to a flower that blooms briefly before withering away. The speaker reflects on how people are born, live, and die, just like the flower, leaving behind only memories. The poem conveys a sense of melancholy and impermanence.
By Eugene Field · First published 1897 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing · 224 words
First lines
Sweet, bide with me and let my love / Be an enduring tether; / Oh, wanton not from spot to spot, / But let us dwell together.
You've come each morn to sip the sweets / With which you found me dripping, / Yet never knew it was not dew / But tears that you were sipping.
You gambol over honey meads / Where siren bees are humming; / But mine the fate to watch and wait / For my beloved's coming.
The sunshine that delights you now / Shall fade to darkness gloomy; / You should not fear if, biding here, / You nestled closer to me.
Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, nature, and emotional expression align with Romantic literary ideals.
- Nature Writing — The imagery of flowers, bees, and the natural world reflects a focus on nature.
- Lyric — The personal and emotional tone of the poem suggests a lyrical quality, expressing the speaker's feelings.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Whimsical · Fantasy · Children's Literature · American Literature · 19th Century · Romanticism · Symbolism · Metamorphosis · Transformation
What this Textopian page supports
Hugo's "Flower to Butterfly" is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1897 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: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing, Lyric, Symbolism
- Length: 224 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Hugo's "Flower to Butterfly" by Eugene Field
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