Old Times, Old Friends, Old Love by Eugene Field
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and reminiscence. It describes a person's longing for past times, friends, and love. The speaker yearns for a bygone era, recalling fond memories of youth and lost loves. The tone is melancholic, with a focus on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human connections.
By Eugene Field · First published 1895 · Genre: Nostalgic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism · 346 words
First lines
THERE are no days like the good old days, -- / The days when we were youthful! / When humankind were pure of mind, / And speech and deeds were truthful; / Before a love for sordid gold / Became man's ruling passion, / And before each dame and maid became / Slave to the tyrant fashion!
There are no girls like the good old girls, -- / Against the world I'd stake 'em! / As buxom and smart and clean of heart / As the Lord knew how to make 'em! / They were rich in spirit and common-sense, / And piety all supportin'; / They could bake and brew, and had taught school, too, / And they made such likely courtin'!
Similar titles
- To Lesley by James Whitcomb Riley
- By My Sweetheart by Eugene Field
- Go Back by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Dedication by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Lines Written In Recapitulation by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Has She Forgotten by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Nostalgic Poetry — The poem reflects on the past with a sense of longing and appreciation for simpler times, making nostalgia a central theme.
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry, focusing on love and memories.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, nature, and idealized past experiences align with the principles of Romantic literature.
- Sentimentalism — The poem evokes strong feelings and emotions related to love and friendship, typical of sentimental literature.
Tags
Nostalgia · Friendship · Love · Romance · Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Sentimental · Melancholic · Reflective · Introspective · Emotional
What this Textopian page supports
Old Times, Old Friends, Old Love is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nostalgic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Sentimentalism, Reflective Literature
- Length: 346 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Old Times, Old Friends, Old Love 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