A Dream of Long Ago by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on lost youth and the passage of time. It describes a dream that takes the speaker back to their childhood, where they relive memories of innocence and joy. The dream serves as a bittersweet reminder of what has been lost with age, but also highlights the enduring power of memory and imagination.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Pastoral · 538 words
First lines
Lying listless in the mosses / Underneath a tree that tosses / Flakes of sunshine, and embosses / Its green shadow with the snow -- / Drowsy-eyed, I sink in slumber / Born of fancies without number -- / Tangled fancies that encumber / Me with dreams of long ago.
Ripples of the river singing; / And the water-lilies swinging / Bells of Parian, and ringing / Peals of perfume faint and fine, / While old forms and fairy faces / Leap from out their hiding-places / In the past, with glad embraces / Fraught with kisses sweet as wine.
What this Textopian page supports
A Dream of Long Ago 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, Romanticism, Pastoral, Fantasy, Nostalgia
- Length: 538 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Dream of Long Ago by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of nostalgia, nature, and emotion align with Romantic literary elements.
- Pastoral — The imagery of nature, rural life, and idyllic settings is typical of pastoral literature.
- Fantasy — The presence of fairy faces and dream-like sequences suggests elements of fantasy.
Tags
Poetry · Nostalgia · Longing · Memory · Dreams · Romance · Sentimental · Melancholy · Wistful · Bittersweet · Autobiographical · Coming of Age