Some Verses: Sonnets: IN THE GREEN YEW

Name: Some Verses: Sonnets: IN THE GREEN YEW
Author: Helen Hay Whitney

In The Green Yew, Helen Hay Whitney’s first book of sonnets, she explores the beauty and mystery of nature, the power of love, and the fragility of life. The sonnets are written in a variety of forms, from traditional Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets to modern free verse. The poems are filled with vivid imagery and lyrical language, and explore themes of love, loss, and the natural world. The title poem, “In the Green Yew,” is a meditation on the beauty of nature and the power of love. Other poems explore the fragility of life, the joy of friendship, and the sorrow of loss. The collection is a beautiful and moving exploration of the human experience, and a testament to the power of poetry.

By Helen Hay Whitney · First published 1898 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing · 263 words

First lines

The wind is howling in angry pain, Ah me, and I cannot rest; On such a night home is best, Why does she stand in the same old place With the smile of smiles on her cold white face And call me thro' the rain?

Ah -- the Wind has died from the Fear of her smile -- And I creep quite still -- On over the hill, To where she stands 'mid the scented yew And where I now am standing too, And she sees me all the while.

A little green snake curls thro' her hair -- The scent of the yew is strong and sweet -- Her eyes have drawn me to her feet, And I lie along on the drenching ground And worship -- and watch the snake curl round, His tongue shoots thro' the air.

What this Textopian page supports

Some Verses: Sonnets: IN THE GREEN YEW is listed on Textopian as a poem by Helen Hay Whitney, dated 1898 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Helen Hay Whitney
Date: 1898 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing
Length: 263 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Some Verses: Sonnets: IN THE GREEN YEW by Helen Hay Whitney
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

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Some Verses: Sonnets: IN THE GREEN YEW?
How does this poem by Helen Hay Whitney fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The title of the book includes the word 'verses' and 'sonnets', which are both forms of poetry.
Romanticism — The title of the book includes the word 'green', which is often associated with the Romanticism literary movement.
Nature Writing — The title of the book includes the word 'yew', which is a type of tree and could indicate a focus on nature writing.