A Windy Day by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem describes a day with strong winds that cause the trees to sway and the clouds to move swiftly across the sky. The speaker reflects on the power of nature and how it can evoke feelings of awe and wonder. The poem also touches on the idea of change and transformation, as the wind brings new weather patterns and potentially disrupts the status quo.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Romanticism · 237 words
First lines
The dawn was a dawn of splendor, And the blue of the morning skies Was as placid and deep and tender As the blue of a baby's eyes; The sunshine flooded the mountain, And flashed over land and sea Like the spray of a glittering fountain. - But the wind-the wind-Ah me!
Like a weird invisible spirit, It swooped in its airy flight; And the earth, as the stress drew near it, Quailed as in mute affright; The grass in the green fields quivered- The waves of the smitten brook Chillily shuddered and shivered, And the reeds bowed down and shook.
What this Textopian page supports
A Windy Day 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, Romanticism, Symbolism
- Length: 237 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The themes and imagery focus on natural elements such as wind, sky, and landscape.
- Romanticism — The use of emotional language and emphasis on nature aligns with Romantic literary themes.
- Symbolism — The wind serves as a symbolic element representing invisible forces and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Weather · Seasonal · Autumn · Nostalgia · Childhood · Memory · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Personification