To -- -- Lines Written after a Summer Day's Excu
The poem describes a summer day's excursion to the woods and a nearby lake. The speaker reflects on the beauty of nature and the passing of time. They express a sense of melancholy and nostalgia for the fleeting moments of joy experienced during the excursion. The poem explores themes of mortality, impermanence, and the human experience.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1867 · Genre: Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric Poetry · 276 words
First lines
Fair Nature's priestesses! to whom, In hieroglyph of bud and bloom, Her mysteries are told; Who, wise in lore of wood and mead, The seasons' pictured scrolls can read, In lessons manifold!
Thanks for the courtesy, and gay Good-humor, which on Washing Day Our ill-timed visit bore; Thanks for your graceful oars, which broke The morning dreams of Artichoke, Along his wooded shore!
Varied as varying Nature's ways, Sprites of the river, woodland fays, Or mountain nymphs, ye seem; Free-limbed Dianas on the green, Loch Katrine's Ellen, or Undine, Upon your favorite stream.
What this Textopian page supports
To -- -- Lines Written after a Summer Day's Excursion is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1867 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: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric Poetry, Pastoral Poetry, Descriptive Poetry
- Length: 276 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for To -- -- Lines Written after a Summer Day's Excursion by John Greenleaf Whittier
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Nature Poetry — The work focuses on the beauty and mysteries of nature, celebrating its elements and the experiences derived from them.
- Romanticism — The themes reflect a deep appreciation for nature, emotion, and individual experience, characteristic of the Romantic movement.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, often in a musical and emotional manner.
- Pastoral Poetry — The work idealizes rural life and nature, depicting serene landscapes and a harmonious relationship with the environment.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Summer · Excursion · Reflection · Meditation · Solitude · Peace · Quiet · Rural · Scenic · Beauty