Tempus Edax Rerum

Name: Tempus Edax Rerum
Author: Helen Hay Whitney

The poem explores the theme of time's destructive power over all things, including human life and civilization. It describes how time devours everything, leaving nothing but decay and ruin in its wake. The speaker reflects on the transience of human existence and the inevitability of decline and fall.

By Helen Hay Whitney · First published 1926 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Philosophical · 133 words

First lines

Upon the silence of my unconcern The little noise that was your name falls dead. I can remember how your mouth was red, In the lost years, but tho' the senses yearn For some unguessed desire, they never turn To that vitality, your face! -- We sped So swiftly thro' our burning hour. We said Drink deep, 't will never end; too late we learn That lovely passion's face so soon is grey, That notes too often pressed upon grow dumb, That after the high climax crowns a day The dusk seems long and empty. We who come To taste again Life's feast, why must it be We meet such ghosts to chill our revelry?

What this Textopian page supports

Tempus Edax Rerum is listed on Textopian as a poem by Helen Hay Whitney, dated 1926 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: 1926 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romance, Philosophical, Tragedy
Length: 133 words
Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Tempus Edax Rerum 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 Tempus Edax Rerum?
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 work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as meter, rhyme, and imagery.
Romance — The themes revolve around love, passion, and the passage of time affecting relationships.
Philosophical — The text reflects on existential themes such as the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change.
Tragedy — The tone and content suggest a sense of loss and the inevitable decline of once-vibrant emotions.