The Waiting
The poem describes a woman waiting for her lover to return from war. She is filled with anxiety and longing, but also with a sense of duty and loyalty. The speaker reflects on the passing of time and the changing seasons, highlighting the contrast between the woman's emotional state and the natural world's indifference. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the human experience. It portrays the woman as a symbol of devotion and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1828 · Genre: Poetry, Spiritual, Philosophical · 237 words
First lines
I wait and watch: before my eyes Methinks the night grows thin and gray; I wait and watch the eastern skies To see the golden spears uprise Beneath the oriflamme of day!
Like one whose limbs are bound in trance I hear the day-sounds swell and grow, And see across the twilight glance, Troop after troop, in swift advance, The shining ones with plumes of snow!
I know the errand of their feet, I know what mighty work is theirs; I can but lift up hands unmeet, The threshing-floors of God to beat, And speed them with unworthy prayers.
I will not dream in vain despair The steps of progress wait for me The puny leverage of a hair The planet's impulse well may spare, A drop of dew the tided sea.
What this Textopian page supports
The Waiting 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: Poetry, Spiritual, Philosophical, Inspirational, Nature
- Length: 237 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Waiting by John Greenleaf Whittier
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Similar titles
- Within The Gate by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Out Of Reach by James Whitcomb Riley
- Morning Is The Place For Dew by Emily Dickinson
- Requirement by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Waiting by Emily Dickinson
- Requiem by Emily Dickinson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetic expression.
- Spiritual — Themes of prayer, divine purpose, and the relationship between human effort and divine will are central to the text.
- Philosophical — The exploration of concepts such as action versus inaction and the nature of progress reflects philosophical inquiry.
- Inspirational — The text encourages perseverance and understanding of one's role in the larger scheme of life.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature · Mortality · Loss · Grief · Longing · Hope · Faith · Spirituality · Existentialism