Memorial Day by Joyce Kilmer (1919)
The poem describes a soldier's death and the speaker's reflection on it. The speaker notes that the soldier died for his country and will be remembered by those who knew him. The poem also touches on the idea of sacrifice and the importance of remembering those who have given their lives in service to their country.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1919 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Religious Literature · 204 words
First lines
"Dulce et decorum est"
The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, But not of war it sings to-day. The road is rhythmic with the feet Of men-at-arms who come to pray.
The roses blossom white and red On tombs where weary soldiers lie; Flags wave above the honoured dead And martial music cleaves the sky.
Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel, They kept the faith and fought the fight. Through flying lead and crimson steel They plunged for Freedom and the Right.
What this Textopian page supports
Memorial Day is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1919 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: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, War Literature, Religious Literature, Memorial Literature, Patriotic Literature
- Length: 204 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Memorial Day by Joyce Kilmer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Memorial Day?
- How does this poem by Joyce Kilmer fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- When The Sixty Ninth Comes Back by Joyce Kilmer
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- Commemorative Of A Naval Victory Poems From Battle Pieces by Herman Melville
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and meter characteristic of poetry.
- War Literature — The themes revolve around soldiers, sacrifice, and remembrance, central to the genre of war literature.
- Religious Literature — The poem references spiritual elements and the divine, reflecting on faith and the afterlife.
- Memorial Literature — The focus on honoring the dead and commemorating their sacrifices aligns with memorial literature.
Tags
War Poetry · American Literature · Poetry Collection · Memorial Day Theme · Patriotism · Nationalism · Loss of Life · Soldiers' Sacrifice · Remembrance · Commemoration · Historical Context · WWI Era