To Time by Georgia Douglas Johnson
The poem explores the relentless passage of time and the speaker's desire to pause and savor moments of joy and bliss. It reflects on the inevitability of aging and the fleeting nature of happiness, symbolized by the hourglass and the imagery of sands slipping away. The speaker expresses a yearning to hold onto time, to linger in moments of beauty and contentment, while grappling with the urgency of life's progression. The use of vivid imagery, such as the "charging sun" and "threads of white," emphasizes the contrast between the desire for stillness and the reality of time's swift movement. Ultimately, the work encapsulates a universal struggle against the transience of life and the longing for permanence in a world defined by change.
By Georgia Douglas Johnson · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 82 words
First lines
Day by day the threads of white Muliply, Oh! hour-glass!
How passing swift your bright sands pass, Fain would I hold you, Linger, bide Until these surges shall subside, That sweep me forward unto bliss, Oh! charging sun, I bid you rest, Break not your arrow in my breast!
What this Textopian page supports
To Time 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, Philosophical, Modernism
- Length: 82 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of time and the desire to pause its passage.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of longing and the beauty of nature align with Romantic ideals.
- Philosophical — The contemplation of time and existence reflects philosophical inquiries.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 20th Century Poetry · Free Verse · Symbolism · Nature Imagery · Time and Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophical Themes · Inner Turmoil · Emotional Expression · Personal Reflections