To Avis Keene on Receiving a Basket of Sea-Mosse

Name: To Avis Keene on Receiving a Basket of Sea-Mosses
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier

The poem is a tribute to Avis Keene, who received a basket of sea-mosses from the speaker. The speaker praises her beauty and innocence, comparing her to a delicate flower that blooms in the wilderness. The poem explores themes of nature, purity, and the fleeting nature of life.

By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1848 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 559 words

First lines

Thanks for thy gift Of ocean flowers, Born where the golden drift Of the slant sunshine falls Down the green, tremulous walls Of water, to the cool, still coral bowers, Where, under rainbows of perpetual showers, God's gardens of the deep His patient angels keep; Gladdening the dim, strange solitude With fairest forms and hues, and thus Forever teaching us The lesson which the many-colored skies, The flowers, and leaves, and painted butterflies, The deer's branched antlers, the gay bird that flings The tropic sunshine from its golden wings, The brightness of the human countenance, Its play of smiles, the magic of a glance, Forevermore repeat, In varied tones and sweet, That beauty, in and of itself, is good.

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To Avis Keene on Receiving a Basket of Sea-Mosses is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1848 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
Date: 1848 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Gift Poetry
Length: 559 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and reflections on beauty and nature, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Nature Poetry — The poem focuses on the beauty of the natural world, exploring themes related to the ocean and its flora.
Philosophical Poetry — It contemplates deeper meanings of beauty, existence, and the divine, aligning with philosophical themes.
Romantic Poetry — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience reflects the characteristics of Romantic poetry.