To the Quiet Observer after his Long Silence
The poem explores the theme of a person who has been quiet for a long time and is now speaking out after their silence. The speaker reflects on the past, acknowledging that they have been misunderstood and judged by others. They express a sense of regret and longing for a connection with someone from their past.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Friendship, Nostalgia · 159 words
First lines
Dear old friend of us all in need / Who know the worth of a friend indeed, / How rejoiced are we all to learn / Of your glad return.
We who have missed your voice so long -- / Even as March might miss the song / Of the sugar-bird in the maples when / They're tapped again.
Even as the memory of these / _Blended_ sweets, -- the sap of the trees / And the song of the birds, and the old camp too, / We think of you.
Hail to you, then, with welcomes deep / As grateful hearts may laugh or weep! -- / You give us not only the bird that sings, / But all good things.
Similar titles
- Music by Ranier Maria Rilke
- The Waking Year by Emily Dickinson
- Reticence by Emily Dickinson
- A Throe Upon The Features by Emily Dickinson
- Days Parlor by Emily Dickinson
- Melodies Unheard by Emily Dickinson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Friendship — The themes revolve around the value and joy of friendship, as expressed in the welcoming tone.
- Nostalgia — The text evokes a sense of longing and reminiscence for past experiences and connections.
- Nature — Imagery related to nature, such as birds and trees, is used to convey emotions and themes.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature Imagery · Solitude · Reflection · Meditation · Quietism · Spirituality · Philosophy · Existentialism · Self-Discovery
What this Textopian page supports
To the Quiet Observer after his Long Silence is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Friendship, Nostalgia, Nature
- Length: 159 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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