The Cyclone by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem describes a stormy night where the speaker's emotions are likened to a cyclone, with intense feelings of love and longing that threaten to consume them. The speaker's heart is compared to a whirlwind, sweeping away all reason and calmness, leaving only chaos and turmoil in its wake.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Drama · 261 words
First lines
So lone I stood, the very trees seemed drawn / In conference with themselves. -- Intense -- intense / Seemed everything; -- the summer splendor on / The sight, -- magnificence!
A babe's life might not lighter fail and die / Than failed the sunlight -- Though the hour was noon, / The palm of midnight might not lighter lie / Upon the brow of June.
With eyes upraised, I saw the underwings / Of swallows -- gone the instant afterward -- / While from the elms there came strange twitterings, / Stilled scarce ere they were heard.
The river seemed to shiver; and, far down / Its darkened length, I saw the sycamores / Lean inward closer, under the vast frown / That weighed above the shores.
What this Textopian page supports
The Cyclone is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Drama, Philosophical
- Length: 261 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cyclone by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and vivid imagery.
- Nature — The poem vividly describes natural elements such as trees, sunlight, swallows, and the river, emphasizing the power and beauty of nature.
- Drama — The intense and dramatic depiction of a cyclone and its aftermath creates a sense of tension and emotional impact.
- Philosophical — The poem explores themes of existence, the passage of time, and the power of natural forces, prompting reflection on human life and nature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Children's Poetry · Nature Imagery · Whimsy · Imagination · Fantasy · Adventure · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Growing Up