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: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Over the Eyes of Gladness by James Whitcomb Riley
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Similar titles
- He Touched Me So I Live To Know by Emily Dickinson
- Glee The Great Storm Is Over by Emily Dickinson
- A Throe Upon The Features by Emily Dickinson
- I Went To Thank Her by Emily Dickinson
- I Asked No Other Thing by Emily Dickinson
- Angels In The Early Morning by Emily Dickinson
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