A Worn-Out Pencil. (Rhymes of Rainy Days)
The poem describes a worn-out pencil that has been used for various tasks and is now exhausted. It reflects on its past experiences, from writing letters to drawing pictures, and notes the wear and tear it has endured. The pencil expresses a sense of nostalgia and regret for being discarded, but also acknowledges its usefulness in creating something meaningful.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Reflective, Philosophical · 294 words
First lines
Welladay! Here I lay You at rest -- all worn away, O my pencil, to the tip Of our old companionship!
Memory Sighs to see What you are, and used to be, Looking backward to the time When you wrote your earliest rhyme! --
When I sat Filing at Your first point, and dreaming that Your initial song should be Worthy of posterity.
With regret I forget If the song be living yet, Yet remember, vaguely now, It was honest, anyhow.
What this Textopian page supports
A Worn-Out Pencil. (Rhymes of Rainy Days) 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, Reflective, Philosophical, Nostalgic, Sentimental
- Length: 294 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyming lines, characteristic of poetry.
- Reflective — The poem reflects on themes of memory, companionship, and the passage of time.
- Philosophical — It explores philosophical ideas about the value of silence and the worth of unsung efforts.
- Nostalgic — The poem evokes a sense of nostalgia for past experiences and creations.
Tags
Children's Literature · Poetry Collection · Rhyming Verse · Nostalgia · Childhood Memories · Simple Language · Imagery · Whimsy · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature