Hazel Blossoms
The poem is a lamentation of the passing of youth and beauty, using the metaphor of a blooming hazel tree to convey the fleeting nature of life's joys. The speaker reflects on how quickly time has passed, and how the once-vibrant blossoms have withered away, leaving only memories behind.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1858 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism · 336 words
First lines
The summer warmth has left the sky, The summer songs have died away; And, withered, in the footpaths lie The fallen leaves, but yesterday With ruby and with topaz gay.
The grass is browning on the hills; No pale, belated flowers recall The astral fringes of the rills, And drearily the dead vines fall, Frost-blackened, from the roadside wall.
What this Textopian page supports
Hazel Blossoms is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1858 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: 1858 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism, Spiritual Poetry
- Length: 336 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Hazel Blossoms by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Hazel Blossoms?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Summer By The Lakeside by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Beautiful Dove by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Will You Come by Edward Thomas
- Sweet Fern by John Greenleaf Whittier
- For Warmth Alone by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Mist In The Valley by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by its expressive and emotional language, focusing on personal feelings and reflections.
- Nature Poetry — The poem vividly describes natural elements and seasonal changes, emphasizing the beauty and transience of nature.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature, emotion, and individual experience align with the principles of Romantic literature.
- Symbolism — The use of the hazel flower as a symbol for deeper meanings and connections to life and love reflects symbolic elements.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Romance · Love · Loss · Grief · Mourning · Memorial · Elegy · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor