When I Was a Boy by Eugene Field
The poem is a nostalgic and sentimental reflection on the speaker's childhood. It describes the joys and simplicity of boyhood, emphasizing the freedom and innocence of that stage of life. The tone is melancholic, with the speaker looking back at his childhood with a sense of longing and loss.
By Eugene Field · First published 1881 · Genre: Poetry, Nostalgia, Lyric · 301 words
First lines
Up in the attic where I slept When I was a boy, a little boy, In through the lattice the moonlight crept, Bringing a tide of dreams that swept Over the low, red trundle-bed, Bathing the tangled curly head, While moonbeams played at hide-and-seek With the dimples on the sun-browned cheek -- When I was a boy, a little boy!
And, oh! the dreams -- the dreams I dreamed! When I was a boy, a little boy! For the grace that through the lattice streamed Over my folded eyelids seemed To have the gift of prophecy, And to bring me glimpses of times to be When manhood's clarion seemed to call -- Ah! that was the sweetest dream of all, When I was a boy, a little boy!
What this Textopian page supports
When I Was a Boy is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1881 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: 1881 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nostalgia, Lyric, Romanticism, Children's Literature
- Length: 301 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for When I Was a Boy by Eugene Field
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Nostalgia — The themes revolve around childhood memories and longing for the past, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The focus on nature, emotion, and individual experience aligns with Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Autobiography · Childhood · Memoir · Nostalgia · Humor · Satire · American Literature · 19th Century · Coming of Age · Family · Relationships · Growing Up