Silence (Sonnets)
The collection of sonnets explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. It is characterized by a focus on nature imagery and a melancholic tone. The poems often express a sense of longing and nostalgia for a past era or lost love.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Imagist · 167 words
First lines
Thousands of thousands of hushed years ago, Out on the edge of Chaos, all alone I stood on peaks of vapor, high upthrown Above a sea that knew nor ebb nor flow, Nor any motion won of winds that blow, Nor any sound of watery wail or moan, Nor lisp of wave, nor wandering undertone Of any tide lost in the night below.
So still it was, I mind me, as I laid My thirsty ear against mine own faint sigh To drink of that, I sipped it, half afraid 'Twas but the ghost of a dead voice spilled by The one starved star that tottered through the shade And came tiptoeing toward me down the sky.
What this Textopian page supports
Silence (Sonnets) 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, Philosophical, Imagist, Symbolism, Romantic
- Length: 167 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured as a sonnet, a form of poetry, and employs poetic devices such as meter, rhyme, and imagery.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential concepts and the nature of silence and chaos, reflecting a philosophical inquiry.
- Imagist — The vivid imagery and focus on visual and sensory details align with the principles of the Imagist movement.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols such as 'Chaos,' 'vapor,' and 'star' suggests deeper meanings beyond their literal sense.
Tags
Poetry · Collection · Sonnets · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Love · Loss · Mortality · Spirituality · Philosophy · Existentialism