Tired by Georgia Douglas Johnson
The poem expresses profound weariness and a sense of despair. The speaker conveys a feeling of monotony in life, where days and nights blend into an endless cycle devoid of hope or joy. The absence of stars symbolizes a lack of guidance or inspiration, emphasizing the darkness surrounding the speaker's emotional state. The speaker's plea for care highlights a deep sense of isolation, suggesting that their struggles go unnoticed by others. The imagery of drifting into despair evokes a sense of helplessness, while the call for shadows to embrace them indicates a desire for solace in darkness rather than facing the burdens of life. The overall tone is one of exhaustion, longing for rest and relief from the relentless pressures of existence. This work encapsulates themes of fatigue, loneliness, and the search for peace, reflecting the emotional toll of unacknowledged suffering. The speaker's yearning for rest underscores a universal human experience of seeking refuge from life's challenges.
By Georgia Douglas Johnson · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 81 words
First lines
I'm tired, days and nights to me Drag on in slow monotony, With not a single star in sight To lend a gleam of cheering light.
I'm tired, there are none to care That I am drifting to despair: O shadows! take me to your breast For I am tired -- I would rest.
What this Textopian page supports
Tired is listed on Textopian as a poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism, Modernism, Confessional
- Length: 81 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
- Escape by Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Isolation by Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Dead Leaves by Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Estrangement by Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Song Of The Sinner by Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Despair by Georgia Douglas Johnson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that expresses deep emotional themes through structured verse.
- Lyric — The poem conveys personal feelings and emotions, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of despair and longing reflect Romantic ideals of individual emotion and nature.
- Modernism — The poem's exploration of existential themes aligns with modernist literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 20th Century Poetry · African American Literature · Free Verse · Social Justice · Feminism · Racism · Societal Commentary · Personal Reflections · Emotional Expression · Inner Turmoil