Pan (Sonnets) by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a lost childhood innocence. It describes the speaker's memories of playing with a pan as a child, symbolizing carefree joy and simplicity. The poem expresses a sense of wistfulness and regret for the passing of time, which has taken away the freedom and spontaneity of youth.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Pastoral, Mythology · 153 words
First lines
This Pan is but an idle god, I guess, / Since all the fair midsummer of my dreams / He loiters listlessly by woody streams, / Soaking the lush glooms up with laziness; / Or drowsing while the maiden-winds caress / Him prankishly, and powder him with gleams / Of sifted sunshine. And he ever seems / Drugged with a joy unutterable -- unless / His low pipes whistle hints of it far out / Across the ripples to the dragon-fly / That like a wind-born blossom blown about, / Drops quiveringly down, as though to die -- / Then lifts and wavers on, as if in doubt / Whether to fan his wings or fly without.
Similar titles
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- Pan With Us by Robert Frost
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured as a sonnet, a traditional poetic form, and employs poetic devices such as meter, rhyme, and imagery.
- Pastoral — The poem features themes of nature and idyllic rural life, focusing on a god associated with the natural world.
- Mythology — The poem references Pan, a figure from Greek mythology, and explores themes related to mythological beings.
- Romanticism — The poem emphasizes emotion, nature, and beauty, which are key elements of the Romantic literary movement.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Pan · Mythology · Greek Mythology · Sonnets · Literary Device · Symbolism · Imagery · Figurative Language · Rural Setting · Seasonal Theme
What this Textopian page supports
Pan (Sonnets) 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, Pastoral, Mythology, Romanticism
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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- Work identity for Pan (Sonnets) by James Whitcomb Riley
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