Dave Lilly by Joyce Kilmer (1918)
The poem is a tribute to the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it. It describes a forest ecosystem where trees are cut down, but new ones grow in their place. The speaker argues that even though some trees may be destroyed, the forest remains intact because new life emerges from the old.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Nature Writing · 533 words
First lines
There's a brook on the side of Greylock that used to be full of trout, / But there's nothing there now but minnows; they say it is all fished out. / I fished there many a Summer day some twenty years ago, / And I never quit without getting a mess of a dozen, or so.
There was a man, Dave Lilly, who lived on the North Adams road, / And he spent all his time fishing, while his neighbors reaped and sowed. / He was the luckiest fisherman in the Berkshire hills, I think. / And when he didn't go fishing he'd sit in the tavern and drink.
What this Textopian page supports
Dave Lilly is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1918 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: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Nature Writing, Ghost Story, Regionalism
- Length: 533 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Dave Lilly by Joyce Kilmer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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- Old Poets by Joyce Kilmer
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and imagery characteristic of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time, focusing on character introspection.
- Nature Writing — The setting and descriptions of the brook and fishing highlight a deep connection to nature.
- Ghost Story — The presence of the ghost of Dave Lilly introduces supernatural elements to the narrative.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · Nature Writing · Symbolism · Imagery · Figurative Language · Free Verse · Rural Setting · Farmer's Life · Agriculture · Seasonal Themes · Spring Equinox