In the South. (Ragweed and Fennel)
The poem explores themes of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time. It describes the speaker's memories of childhood summers spent in the South, surrounded by the scents of ragweed and fennel. The poem is a nostalgic reflection on the passing of youth and the loss of innocence.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Fantasy · 339 words
First lines
There is a princess in the South About whose beauty rumors hum Like honey-bees about the mouth Of roses dewdrops falter from; And O her hair is like the fine Clear amber of a jostled wine In tropic revels; and her eyes Are blue as rifts of Paradise.
Such beauty as may none before Kneel daringly, to kiss the tips Of fingers such as knights of yore Had died to lift against their lips: Such eyes as might the eyes of gold Of all the stars of night behold With glittering envy, and so glare In dazzling splendor of despair.
What this Textopian page supports
In the South. (Ragweed and Fennel) 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, Romance, Fantasy, Medieval
- Length: 339 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, with a focus on rhythm, meter, and rhyme, characteristic of poetic form.
- Romance — The themes revolve around beauty, admiration, and courtship, central to romantic literature.
- Fantasy — The imagery and idealized descriptions suggest a fantastical, almost otherworldly setting.
- Medieval — References to knights and minstrels evoke a medieval or chivalric context.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Regionalism · American Literature · 19th Century · Rural Life · Farming · Agriculture · Seasonal Change · Autumn · Nostalgia · Sentimentality