The Trestle and the Buck-Saw
This poem explores the contrast between a rustic, rural way of life and the modernizing influences of industrialization. The Trestle represents the new technology that is changing the landscape, while the Buck-Saw symbolizes the traditional skills and ways of the past. The speaker reflects on how these changes are affecting the community, noting both the benefits and drawbacks of progress.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Fable, Humor · 70 words
First lines
The Trestle and the Buck-Saw / Went out a-walking once, / And staid away and staid away / For days and weeks and months: / And when they got back home again, / Of all that had occurred, / The neighbors said the gossips said / They never said a word.
What this Textopian page supports
The Trestle and the Buck-Saw 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, Fable, Humor, Children's Literature
- Length: 70 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
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- Work identity for The Trestle and the Buck-Saw by James Whitcomb Riley
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming pattern typical of poetry.
- Fable — The narrative involves anthropomorphized objects, suggesting a moral or lesson akin to a fable.
- Humor — The playful and whimsical nature of the story, along with the unexpected conclusion, aligns with humorous writing.
- Children's Literature — The simple language and imaginative scenario are characteristic of literature aimed at a younger audience.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Rural Life · Farming · Labor · Industrialization · Nostalgia · Regionalism · Midwestern · Indiana · Agriculture