Said the Rose by Joyce Kilmer (1913)
The poem explores the fleeting nature of life and beauty through the rose's lament that it will soon wither and die. The speaker reflects on how its beauty is short-lived and how it will eventually fade away, leaving behind only memories.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1913 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Nature Poetry · 366 words
First lines
No flower hath so fair a face as this pale love of mine When he bends down to kiss my heart, my petals try to twine About his lips to hold them fast. He is so very fair, My lover with the pale, sad face and forest-fragrant hair.
I think it is a pleasant place, this garden where I grow, With gravel walks and grassy mounds and crosses in a row. There is no toil nor worry here, nor clatter of the street, And here each night my lover comes, pale, sad and very sweet.
What this Textopian page supports
Said the Rose is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1913 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: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Nature Poetry, Symbolism, Imagism
- Length: 366 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Said the Rose 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Said the Rose?
- How does this poem by Joyce Kilmer fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by its emotional expression and personal reflection, typical of lyric poetry.
- Romantic Poetry — Themes of love and longing are central, aligning with the conventions of romantic poetry.
- Nature Poetry — The imagery of the garden and flowers emphasizes a connection to nature, a common theme in nature poetry.
- Symbolism — The use of flowers and the lover as symbols conveys deeper meanings about love and existence.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Romance · Love · Flowers · Beauty · Symbolism · Metaphor · Imagery · Sensuality · Intimacy · Whimsy