The Fountain
The poem is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and beauty. It describes a fountain that has been frozen by winter's chill, its waters turned to ice. The speaker reflects on how even in death, there can be a kind of beauty, a stillness that is both peaceful and melancholic.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1857 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Romanticism · 713 words
First lines
On the declivity of a hill in Salisbury, Essex County, is a fountain of clear water, gushing from the very roots of a venerable oak. It is about two miles from the junction of the Powow River with the Merrimac.
TRAVELLER! on thy journey toiling By the swift Powow, With the summer sunshine falling On thy heated brow, Listen, while all else is still, To the brooklet from the hill.
What this Textopian page supports
The Fountain is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1857 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: 1857 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Romanticism, Historical, Lyrical
- Length: 713 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fountain by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Fountain?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- The Message Of The Lilies by Madison Cawein
- A Murmur In The Trees To Note by Emily Dickinson
- What The Thrush Said by John Keats
- The Tulip by Emily Dickinson
- The Chapel Of The Hermits by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and meter typical of poetry.
- Nature Writing — The poem vividly describes natural landscapes, focusing on the fountain, the oak, and the surrounding environment.
- Romanticism — Themes of nature, emotion, and nostalgia reflect the ideals of the Romantic movement.
- Historical — The poem references historical elements, such as the presence of Native Americans and colonial themes.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Symbolism · Fountain · Water · Life · Death · Renewal · Cycle · Existence · Mortality · Ephemerality