August by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and the passing of time through the eyes of a child who has grown up and moved away from his childhood home in August. The speaker reflects on the memories of his youth, the changing seasons, and the fleeting nature of life.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Pastoral, Impressionism · 389 words
First lines
A day of torpor in the sullen heat / Of Summer's passion: In the sluggish stream / The panting cattle lave their lazy feet, / With drowsy eyes, and dream.
Long since the winds have died, and in the sky / There lives no cloud to hint of Nature's grief; / The sun glares ever like an evil eye, / And withers flower and leaf.
What this Textopian page supports
August 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, Pastoral, Impressionism, Symbolism, Lyrical
- Length: 389 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for August by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- Another Old Song by Edward Thomas
- An Autumn Day by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- In An Old Garden by Madison Cawein
- September by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Indian Summer by Madison Cawein
- Autumn by Emily Dickinson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter to convey its themes.
- Pastoral — The poem focuses on rural and natural settings, depicting the landscape and elements of nature.
- Impressionism — The poem emphasizes sensory impressions and the atmosphere of a summer day, rather than detailed narrative or character development.
- Symbolism — The poem uses symbolic imagery, such as the sun as an 'evil eye,' to convey deeper meanings and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Seasonal · Autumn · Reflection · Mortality · Loss · Memory · Nostalgia · Sentimentality · Emotional · Introspective