A Dream of Autumn by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem describes a nostalgic and melancholic scene of autumn, where the speaker reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. The dreamer's vision is one of decay and abandonment, with leaves fallen from trees and a sense of desolation pervading the landscape. The poem explores themes of mortality, loss, and the transience of human experience.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Pastoral · 418 words
First lines
Mellow hazes, lowly trailing / Over wood and meadow, veiling / Somber skies, with wildfowl sailing / Sailor-like to foreign lands; / And the north-wind overleaping / Summer's brink, and floodlike sweeping / Wrecks of roses where the weeping / Willows wring their helpless hands.
Flared, like Titan torches flinging / Flakes of flame and embers, springing / From the vale the trees stand swinging / In the moaning atmosphere; / While in dead'ning-lands the lowing / Of the cattle, sadder growing, / Fills the sense to overflowing / With the sorrow of the year.
What this Textopian page supports
A Dream of Autumn is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Pastoral, Romantic, Symbolism
- Length: 418 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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- Work identity for A Dream of Autumn by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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- When Early March Seems Middle May by James Whitcomb Riley
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The text vividly describes natural elements and landscapes, emphasizing the changing seasons and their impact on the environment.
- Pastoral — The depiction of rural life, fields, and natural scenery aligns with the themes typical of pastoral literature.
- Romantic — The use of emotive language and focus on beauty and melancholy reflects Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Poetry · Autumn · Nature · Seasonal · Imagery · Symbolism · Dreams · Fantasy · Romanticism · Nostalgia · Longing · Melancholy