Lionel Johnson by Joyce Kilmer
The poem is a tribute to Lionel Johnson, an Irish poet and critic. It portrays him as a melancholic figure, struggling with his own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker reflects on Johnson's introspective nature, his love of beauty, and his tendency to dwell on the darker aspects of existence.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric · 190 words
First lines
(For the Rev. John J. Burke, C. S. P.)
There was a murkier tinge in London's air As if the honest fog blushed black for shame. Fools sang of sin, for other fools' acclaim, And Milton's wreath was tossed to Baudelaire. The flowers of evil blossomed everywhere, But in their midst a radiant lily came, Candescent, pure, a cup of living flame, Bloomed for a day, and left the earth more fair.
And was it Charles, thy "fair and fatal King," Who bade thee welcome to the lovely land? Or did Lord David cease to harp and sing To take in his thine emulative hand? Or did Our Lady's smile shine forth, to bring Her lyric Knight within her choir to stand?
What this Textopian page supports
Lionel Johnson is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric, Religious, Romanticism
- Length: 190 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Keats In Praise Of Poets by Henry Van Dyke
- Remembrance by W. B. Yeats
- Wordsworth by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Where My Books Go by W. B. Yeats
- The Progress Of Poesy by Matthew Arnold
- Austerity Of Poetry by Matthew Arnold
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of beauty and morality.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on the life and legacy of an individual, expressing sorrow and admiration.
- Lyric — The work conveys personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyrical poetry.
- Religious — The text includes references to religious figures and themes, indicating a spiritual dimension.
Tags
Biography · Poetry · Literary Criticism · Intellectual History · Catholicism · Aesthetics · Philosophy · Literary Movement · Symbolism · Modernism · Irish Literature · English Literature