Roofs by Joyce Kilmer (1918)
The poem explores the theme of impermanence and the fleeting nature of life. It describes a tree's growth from a sapling to its eventual decline and death, with its roof-like branches eventually falling to the ground. The speaker reflects on how all things must come to an end, including human life.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Nature · 347 words
First lines
(For Amelia Josephine Burr)
The road is wide and the stars are out and the breath of the night is sweet, / And this is the time when wanderlust should seize upon my feet. / But I'm glad to turn from the open road and the starlight on my face, / And to leave the splendour of out-of-doors for a human dwelling place.
Similar titles
- A Snow Song Of Skies And Seasons by Henry Van Dyke
- Theres Nothing Like The Sun by Edward Thomas
- Stanzas by Edgar Allan Poe
- Summer by Madison Cawein
- Still Will I Harvest Beauty by Edna St Vincent Millay
- The Last Sonnet by John Keats
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and imagery characteristic of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and reflections on home and wanderlust, typical of lyric poetry.
- Nature — Themes of nature and the outdoors are prevalent, contrasting the beauty of the natural world with the comfort of home.
- Philosophical — The poem explores deeper meanings about life, belonging, and the human experience.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Trees · Beauty · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Simile · Personification · Alliteration · Onomatopoeia · Free Verse
What this Textopian page supports
Roofs 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, Lyric, Nature, Philosophical, Narrative
- Length: 347 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Roofs by Joyce Kilmer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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