Over the Eyes of Gladness
The poem explores themes of nostalgia and longing for a lost era. It describes the speaker's memories of childhood summers spent on a farm, where they would watch the sunset over fields of golden wheat. The poem is written in a lyrical style, with a focus on the sensory details of nature and the passing of time.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric · 213 words
First lines
"The voice of One hath spoken, / And the bended reed is bruised -- / The golden bowl is broken, / And the silver cord is loosed."
Over the eyes of gladness / The lids of sorrow fall, / And the light of mirth is darkened / Under the funeral pall.
The hearts that throbbed with rapture / In dreams of the future years, / Are wakened from their slumbers, / And their visions drowned in tears.
Two buds on the bough in the morning -- / Twin buds in the smiling sun, / But the frost of death has fallen / And blighted the bloom of one.
What this Textopian page supports
Over the Eyes of Gladness 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, Elegy, Lyric, Religious
- Length: 213 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Over the Eyes of Gladness by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Elegy — The themes of mourning, loss, and reflection on death align with the traditional elements of an elegy.
- Lyric — The personal and emotional expression of sorrow and contemplation fits the lyric genre.
- Religious — References to Heaven and spiritual themes suggest a religious undertone.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature Imagery · Symbolism · Imagery · Figurative Language · Metaphor · Simile · Personification · Tone · Mood