Erasmus Wilson by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a past era. It describes the speaker's memories of Erasmus Wilson, a historical figure known for his eccentricities and accomplishments. The poem portrays Wilson as a larger-than-life character, whose life was marked by both brilliance and madness. Through the speaker's reminiscences, the poem conveys a sense of wistfulness and regret for the passing of time and the loss of a unique individual.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Nostalgia, Friendship · 1,229 words
First lines
'Ras Wilson, I respect you, 'cause / You're common, like you allus was / Afore you went to town and s'prised / The world by gittin' "reckonized," / And yit perservin', as I say, / Your common hoss-sense ev'ryway! / And when that name o' yourn occurs / On hand-bills, er in newspapers, / Er letters writ by friends 'at ast / About you, same as in the past, / And neghbors and relations 'low / You're out o' the tall timber now, / And "gittin' thare" about as spry's / The next! -- as _I say_, when my eyes, / Er ears, lights on your name, I mind / The first time 'at I come to find / You -- and my Rickollection yells, / Jest jubilunt as old sleigh-bells -- / "Ras Wilson! Say! Hold up! and shake / A paw, fer old acquaintance sake.! "
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Nostalgia — The themes revolve around reminiscing about the past and childhood memories.
- Friendship — The narrative focuses on the bond and camaraderie between the speaker and 'Ras Wilson'.
- Regionalism — The language and setting reflect a specific regional dialect and culture.
Tags
Biographical Fiction · Historical Fiction · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Novel · Fictionalized Biography · Literary Fiction · Realistic Fiction · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Social Commentary · Family Dynamics
What this Textopian page supports
Erasmus Wilson 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, Nostalgia, Friendship, Regionalism, Humor
- Length: 1,229 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Erasmus Wilson by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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