A Song by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem describes a nostalgic and melancholic scene of a person singing a song that evokes memories of the past. The speaker reflects on how the song brings back memories of love, loss, and longing. The tone is contemplative and introspective, with a focus on the emotional resonance of music in capturing the human experience.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Inspirational · 310 words
First lines
There is ever a song somewhere, my dear; / There is ever a something sings alway: / There's the song of the lark when the skies are clear, / And the song of the thrush when the skies are gray.
The sunshine showers across the grain, / And the bluebird trills in the orchard tree; / And in and out, when the eaves dip rain, / The swallows are twittering ceaselessly.
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The poem prominently features elements of nature, such as birds, skies, and seasons, as central themes.
- Inspirational — The recurring theme of finding a song or positivity in various circumstances suggests an inspirational tone.
- Romantic — The use of affectionate language and the address to 'my dear' implies a romantic undertone.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Children's Poetry · Nursery Rhyme · Folk Song · Ballad · Lyric Poetry · Free Verse · Nature Imagery · Imagism · Symbolism
What this Textopian page supports
A Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Inspirational, Romantic
- Length: 310 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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