The Prayer of Agassiz
This poem is a tribute to Louis Agassiz, a Swiss-American naturalist and educator. It describes his spiritual journey and his relationship with nature. The speaker reflects on Agassiz's life and legacy, highlighting his contributions to science and education. The poem also touches on themes of faith, morality, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1863 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Nature Writing, Philosophical Poetry · 842 words
First lines
The island of Penikese in Buzzard's Bay was given by Mr. John Anderson to Agassiz for the uses of a summer school of natural history. A large barn was cleared and improvised as a lecture-room. Here, on the first morning of the school, all the company was gathered. "Agassiz had arranged no programme of exercises," says Mrs. Agassiz, in Louis Agassiz; his Life and Correspondence, "trusting to the interest of the occasion to suggest what might best be said or done. But, as he looked upon his pupils gathered there to study nature with him, by an impulse as natural as it was unpremeditated, he called upon then to join in silently asking God's blessing on their work together. The pause was broken by the first words of an address no less fervent than its unspoken prelude. " This was in the summer of 1873, and Agassiz died the December following.
What this Textopian page supports
The Prayer of Agassiz is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1863 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: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Nature Writing, Philosophical Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Inspirational Poetry
- Length: 842 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work centers on themes of prayer, spirituality, and the relationship between nature and the divine.
- Nature Writing — It reflects on the beauty of the natural world and the pursuit of understanding nature through observation and study.
- Philosophical Poetry — The poem explores deep philosophical questions about existence, truth, and the nature of reality.
- Lyric Poetry — The personal and emotional tone conveys the speaker's reverence and admiration for the subject.
Tags
Poetry · Religion · Spirituality · Faith · Prayer · Nature · Philosophy · Meditation · Reflection · Inspiration · Hope · Comfort