June by James Whitcomb Riley (1888)
The poem is a nostalgic and sentimental tribute to the joys of childhood summers spent at a rural lake. It describes the carefree days of youth, filled with swimming, fishing, and playing in the sun. The speaker reflects on the passing of time and how it has changed their relationship with the natural world.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Pastoral, Romanticism · 156 words
First lines
Queenly month of indolent repose!
I drink thy breath in sips of rare perfume, As in thy downy lap of clover-bloom I nestle like a drowsy child and doze The lazy hours away. The zephyr throws The shifting shuttle of the Summer's loom And weaves a damask-work of gleam and gloom Before thy listless feet. The lily blows A bugle-call of fragrance o'er the glade; And, wheeling into ranks, with plume and spear, Thy harvest-armies gather on parade; While, faint and far away, yet pure and clear, A voice calls out of alien lands of shade: -- All hail the Peerless Goddess of the Year!
What this Textopian page supports
June is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Pastoral, Romanticism
- Length: 156 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for June by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering June?
- How does this poem by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetic form.
- Pastoral — The themes and imagery focus on nature, rural life, and the beauty of the natural world.
- Romanticism — The text emphasizes emotion, nature, and individual experience, aligning with Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Seasonal · Summer · Youthful · Innocence · Hope · Optimism · Joy · Freedom