Go, Winter! by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the changing seasons. It describes the speaker's longing for winter to return, symbolizing the end of summer's warmth and vitality. The poem explores themes of mortality, nostalgia, and the cyclical nature of life.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Seasonal · 176 words
First lines
Go, Winter! Go thy ways! We want again The twitter of the bluebird and the wren; Leaves ever greener growing, and the shine Of Summer's sun -- not thine. --
Thy sun, which mocks our need of warmth and love And all the heartening fervencies thereof, It scarce hath heat enow to warm our thin Pathetic yearnings in.
So get thee from us! We are cold, God wot, Even as _thou_ art. -- We remember not How blithe we hailed thy coming. -- That was O Too long -- too long ago!
Get from us utterly! Ho! Summer then Shall spread her grasses where thy snows have been, And thy last icy footprint melt and mold In her first marigold.
What this Textopian page supports
Go, Winter! 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, Nature, Seasonal, Romanticism
- Length: 176 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The themes revolve around the changing seasons and natural elements, highlighting a connection to nature.
- Seasonal — The content specifically addresses the transition from winter to summer, emphasizing seasonal change.
- Romanticism — The expression of emotion and yearning for warmth and love aligns with Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Poetry · Winter · Seasonal · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Personification · Rural · American · Regionalism · Folklore