The Rainy Morning by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem describes a rainy morning scene where the speaker reflects on the beauty of nature and the passing of time. The rain creates a melancholic atmosphere, but also brings life to the world outside. The speaker notes how the raindrops create a rhythmic sound that echoes through the streets, and how the smell of wet earth fills the air.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Nature · 236 words
First lines
The dawn of the day was dreary, / And the lowering clouds o'erhead / Wept in a silent sorrow / Where the sweet sunshine lay dead; / And a wind came out of the eastward / Like an endless sigh of pain, / And the leaves fell down in the pathway / And writhed in the falling rain.
I had tried in a brave endeavor / To chord my harp with the sun, / But the strings would slacken ever, / And the task was a weary one: / And so, like a child impatient / And sick of a discontent, / I bowed in a shower of tear-drops / And mourned with the instrument.
What this Textopian page supports
The Rainy Morning 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, Lyric, Nature, Romantic, Reflective
- Length: 236 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Rainy Morning by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Nature — The imagery and themes revolve around natural elements like rain, clouds, and sunlight.
- Romantic — The poem emphasizes emotion, individual experience, and the beauty of nature, aligning with Romantic themes.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Morning · Rainy · Atmosphere · Mood · Emotion · Sensory · Imagery · Description · Vivid · Language