For You by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a lost childhood innocence. It describes a person's memories of their youth, where they were free from worries and cares, and compares it to their current state of adulthood, which is marked by responsibility and hardship. The speaker reflects on how time has passed and how things have changed, leading to a sense of melancholy and regret for the loss of innocence.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1880 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Lyric · 240 words
First lines
For you, I could forget the gay / Delirium of merriment, / And let my laughter die away / In endless silence of content.
I could forget, for your dear sake, / The utter emptiness and ache / Of every loss I ever knew. -- / What could I not forget for you?
I could forget the just deserts / Of mine own sins, and so erase / The tear that burns, the smile that hurts, / And all that mars or masks my face.
For your fair sake I could forget / The bonds of life that chafe and fret, / Nor care if death were false or true. -- / What could I not forget for you?
What this Textopian page supports
For You is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1880 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: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Lyric, Reflective
- Length: 240 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for For You by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romantic — The themes revolve around love and devotion, central to romantic literature.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and feelings, typical of lyric poetry.
- Reflective — The poem involves introspection and contemplation about personal experiences and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Love · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Personification · Free Verse · American Literature · 19th Century · Indiana