Dusk (Sonnets)
The collection consists of 12 sonnets that explore the themes of love, loss, and mortality. The poems are written in a traditional sonnet form with a focus on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human experience. The speaker reflects on the beauty of dusk and its ability to evoke emotions and memories. The poems also touch on the idea of longing and the pain of lost love. Throughout the collection, the speaker grapples with the inevitability of death and the transience of life. The sonnets are characterized by a sense of melancholy and introspection. The language is formal and lyrical, with a focus on the musicality of words. The poems explore the tension between light and darkness, hope and despair. Ultimately, the collection presents a nuanced exploration of the human experience, one that is marked by both beauty and sorrow.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Melancholy · 161 words
First lines
The frightened herds of clouds across the sky Trample the sunshine down, and chase the day Into the dusky forest-lands of gray And sombre twilight. Far and faint, and high, The wild goose trails his harrow, with a cry Sad as the wail of some poor castaway Who sees a vessel drifting far astray Of his last hope, and lays him down to die.
The children, riotous from school, grow bold And quarrel with the wind whose angry gust Plucks off the summer-hat, and flaps the fold Of many a crimson cloak, and twirls the dust In spiral shapes grotesque, and dims the gold Of gleaming tresses with the blur of rust.
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Dusk (Sonnets) is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Melancholy, Children's Literature
- Length: 161 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured as a sonnet, a traditional poetic form, and employs poetic devices such as rhyme, meter, and imagery.
- Nature — The poem vividly describes natural elements like clouds, sky, and twilight, focusing on the interaction between nature and human perception.
- Melancholy — The themes and imagery evoke a sense of sadness and loss, particularly through the metaphor of the wild goose and the castaway.
- Children's Literature — The poem includes references to children and their playful interactions with the wind, adding a layer of youthful perspective.
Tags
Poetry · Collection · Sonnets · Nature · Evening · Sunset · Romanticism · American Literature · 19th Century · Whimsy · Imagery · Symbolism