Last Night -- and This
The poem explores the contrast between a carefree night of revelry and the sobering reality of the next day's responsibilities. It describes the speaker's joyous abandon during a night of drinking and merriment, but also acknowledges the inevitable consequences that follow. The poem touches on themes of morality, responsibility, and the human tendency to indulge in fleeting pleasures despite knowing their costs.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Lyric · 161 words
First lines
Last night -- how deep the darkness was!
And well I knew its depths, because I waded it from shore to shore, Thinking to reach the light no more.
She would not even touch my hand. -- The winds rose and the cedars fanned The moon out, and the stars fled back In heaven and hid -- and all was black!
But ah! To-night a summons came, Signed with a teardrop for a name, -- For as I wondering kissed it, lo, A line beneath it told me so.
What this Textopian page supports
Last Night -- and This is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Lyric, Symbolism, Nature
- Length: 161 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Last Night -- and This by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- Sweet Hours Have Perished Here by Emily Dickinson
- Summer Be Seen No More by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Burning Drift Wood by John Greenleaf Whittier
- A Dost O Blues Ragweed And Fennel by James Whitcomb Riley
- Ive Seen A Dying Eye by Emily Dickinson
- Serenade by Edgar Allan Poe
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romantic — Themes of love and emotional longing are central to the narrative.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Symbolism — The use of imagery such as darkness and light conveys deeper meanings and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Free Verse · Nature Imagery · Seasonal Themes · Autumn · Fleeting Life · Mortality · Memory · Nostalgia · Longing