Apology by Joyce Kilmer (1914)
The poem explores the theme of regret and longing for a lost love. The speaker apologizes for past mistakes and expresses a desire to turn back time to relive moments with their loved one. The tone is melancholic and introspective, with a focus on the pain of lost opportunity.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical · 368 words
First lines
(For Eleanor Rogers Cox)
For blows on the fort of evil That never shows a breach, For terrible life-long races To a goal no foot can reach, For reckless leaps into darkness With hands outstretched to a star, There is jubilation in Heaven Where the great dead poets are.
What this Textopian page supports
Apology is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Joyce Kilmer
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical, Romanticism, Elegy
- Length: 368 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Apology by Joyce Kilmer
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of longing, creativity, and the struggles of poets.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry, emphasizing the inner experiences of poets.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deeper questions about existence, suffering, and the nature of artistic pursuit, aligning with philosophical inquiry.
- Romanticism — The work reflects Romantic ideals, such as the celebration of individual emotion and the beauty found in struggle and unattainable aspirations.
Tags
Poem · Philosophical · Literary · Classic · American · 19th Century · Meditative · Reflective · Personal · Autobiographical · Spiritual · Existential