My Mary by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem is a nostalgic and sentimental tribute to the speaker's childhood sweetheart, Mary. It describes their idyllic summer days spent together, playing in the woods and by the creek. The speaker reflects on how time has passed and they are now separated, but the memories of those carefree days remain vivid.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Pastoral · 544 words
First lines
My Mary, O my Mary!
The simmer-skies are blue; The dawnin' brings the dazzle, An' the gloamin' brings the dew? -- The mirk o' nicht the glory O' the moon, an' kindles, too, The stars that shift aboon the lift. -- - But nae thing brings me you!
What this Textopian page supports
My Mary is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Pastoral, Elegy
- Length: 544 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Discussion starters
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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 love, longing, and emotional connection, central to romantic literature.
- Pastoral — The imagery and setting evoke nature and rural life, typical of pastoral themes.
- Elegy — The tone and content suggest mourning and reflection on loss, aligning with elegiac poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Love · Nostalgia · Sentimental · Melancholy · Longing · Yearning · Wistfulness · Bittersweet · Autobiographical · Memoiristic