Uncomforted by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the theme of nostalgia and longing for a lost childhood innocence. It describes a person who has grown up and moved away from their rural home, but still holds onto memories of their carefree youth. The speaker expresses a sense of disconnection from their current life and a yearning to return to a simpler time.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric · 307 words
First lines
Lelloine! Lelloine! Don't you hear me calling? Calling through the night for you, and calling through the day; Calling when the dawn is here, and when the dusk is falling -- Calling for my Lelloine the angels lured away!
Lelloine! I call and listen, starting from my pillow -- In the hush of midnight, Lelloine! I cry, And o'er the rainy window-pane I hear the weeping willow Trail its dripping leaves like baby-fingers in reply.
What this Textopian page supports
Uncomforted 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, Elegy, Lyric, Religious, Sentimental
- Length: 307 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Uncomforted by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Uncomforted?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality, characteristic of poetry.
- Elegy — The poem expresses sorrow and mourning for the loss of a loved one, fitting the elegiac tradition.
- Lyric — The poem conveys personal emotions and feelings, typical of lyric poetry.
- Religious — The text includes themes of prayer and communication with the divine, reflecting religious elements.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Solitude · Melancholy · Longing · Nostalgia · Loss · Grief · Isolation · Self-Discovery