A Glimpse of Pan
The poem explores the idea that even a glimpse of something beautiful and elusive can be enough to inspire longing and nostalgia for what cannot be fully experienced. The speaker describes a fleeting encounter with Pan, the mythological god of nature, and how it has left an indelible mark on their imagination. The poem is a meditation on the power of suggestion and the human desire to connect with something greater than oneself.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1880 · Genre: Poetry, Pastoral, Mythology · 259 words
First lines
I caught but a glimpse of him. Summer was here, And I strayed from the town and its dust and heat And walked in a wood, while the noon was near, Where the shadows were cool, and the atmosphere Was misty with fragrances stirred by my feet From surges of blossoms that billowed sheer O'er the grasses, green and sweet.
And I peered through a vista of leaning trees, Tressed with long tangles of vines that swept To the face of a river, that answered these With vines in the wave like the vines in the breeze, Till the yearning lips of the ripples crept And kissed them, with quavering ecstacies, And gurgled and laughed and wept.
What this Textopian page supports
A Glimpse of Pan is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1880 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: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Pastoral, Mythology, Romanticism
- Length: 259 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
- A Water Color by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Harp Of The Minstrel by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Clover by James Whitcomb Riley
- Pan Sonnets by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Blossoms On The Trees by James Whitcomb Riley
- A Snow Song Of Skies And Seasons by Henry Van Dyke
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery.
- Pastoral — The poem depicts an idealized version of nature, emphasizing its beauty and tranquility.
- Mythology — The presence of Pan, a figure from Greek mythology, is central to the poem's theme.
- Romanticism — The poem emphasizes emotion, nature, and the sublime, characteristic of Romantic literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Mythology · Pan · Greek Mythology · Folklore · Symbolism · Imagery · Language · Style