The Memory of Burns
This poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human memory. It explores the idea that even the most vivid memories can fade with age, leaving behind only a faint impression of what once was. The speaker laments the loss of his youth and the memories associated with it, now reduced to a distant recollection.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1855 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Elegy · 304 words
First lines
Read at the Boston celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, 25th 1st mo., 1859. In my absence these lines were read by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
How sweetly come the holy psalms From saints and martyrs down, The waving of triumphal palms Above the thorny crown The choral praise, the chanted prayers From harps by angels strung, The hunted Cameron's mountain airs, The hymns that Luther sung!
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The Memory of Burns is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1855 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: 1855 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Elegy, Religious, Celebratory
- Length: 304 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and meter typical of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — It commemorates the life and contributions of Robert Burns, fitting the elegiac tradition.
- Religious — The themes of spirituality and divine praise are prominent throughout the poem.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Free Verse · Nature Poetry · Autobiographical Elements · Memory and Nostalgia · Emotional Depth · Symbolism · Imagery · Figurative Language · Rural Setting