A Day by John Greenleaf Whittier
The poem describes a day in the life of a rural New Englander, from dawn to dusk. It portrays the speaker's daily routine, including his work in the fields and his interactions with nature. The poem also touches on themes of simplicity, hard work, and contentment.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1828 · Genre: Nature Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism · 225 words
First lines
Talk not of sad November, when a day Of warm, glad sunshine fills the sky of noon, And a wind, borrowed from some morn of June, Stirs the brown grasses and the leafless spray.
On the unfrosted pool the pillared pines Lay their long shafts of shadow: the small rill, Singing a pleasant song of summer still, A line of silver, down the hill-slope shines.
Hushed the bird-voices and the hum of bees, In the thin grass the crickets pipe no more; But still the squirrel hoards his winter store, And drops his nut-shells from the shag-bark trees.
What this Textopian page supports
A Day is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1828 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1828 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Seasonal Poetry, Reflective Poetry
- Length: 225 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Greeting by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Old Year And The New by James Whitcomb Riley
- Before The Ice Is In The Pools by Emily Dickinson
- Sowing by Edward Thomas
- Apart by Madison Cawein
- Spring In The North Of Skies And Seasons by Henry Van Dyke
Genres
- Nature Poetry — The poem vividly describes natural scenes and the beauty of the changing seasons.
- Lyric Poetry — It expresses personal feelings and reflections on nature and the passage of time.
- Romanticism — The work emphasizes emotion, individual experience, and a deep appreciation for nature.
- Seasonal Poetry — It focuses on the themes of seasonal change and the transition from autumn to winter.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Seasonal · Autumn · Reflection · Meditation · Solitude · Isolation · Nostalgia · Memory