The Dying Year by Eugene Field
The poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. It expresses a sense of longing and regret for the loss of youth and innocence. The speaker describes the dying year as one that is fading away, much like the leaves that fall from trees in autumn. The poem conveys a sense of resignation and acceptance of the inevitability of decline and death.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical · 118 words
First lines
The year has been a tedious one -- A weary round of toil and sorrow, And, since it now at last is gone, We say farewell and hail the morrow.
Yet o'er the wreck which time has wrought A sweet, consoling ray is shimmered -- The one but compensating thought That literary life has glimmered.
Struggling with hunger and with cold The world contemptuously beheld 'er; The little thing was one year old -- But who'd have cared had she been elder?
What this Textopian page supports
The Dying Year 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, Literary Fiction, Philosophical, Melancholic, Inspirational
- Length: 118 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Similar titles
- To Time by Lord Byron
- When Age Comes On by James Whitcomb Riley
- A Late Walk by Robert Frost
- An Old Song by Edward Thomas
- The Bell Flower Tree by Eugene Field
- We Defer Things by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The themes of reflection on time and life's struggles align with literary fiction's focus on character and thematic depth.
- Philosophical — The exploration of life's transience and the contemplation of existence suggest philosophical themes.
- Melancholic — The tone reflects sadness and introspection, typical of melancholic literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Mortality · Seasonal Change · Autumn · Melancholy · Reflection · Contemplation · Imagery · Symbolism