St. Alexis by Joyce Kilmer (1920)
The poem tells the story of a young man who leaves his family and home to live as a hermit in a church. He spends his days praying and reading scripture, but eventually becomes disillusioned with the world outside and decides to remain in the church forever.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1920 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 441 words
First lines
Patron of Beggars
We who beg for bread as we daily tread Country lane and city street, Let us kneel and pray on the broad highway To the saint with the vagrant feet. Our altar light is a buttercup bright, And our shrine is a bank of sod, But still we share St. Alexis' care, The Vagabond of God.
What this Textopian page supports
St. Alexis is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1920 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: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Allegorical Poetry, Historical Poetry
- Length: 441 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for St. Alexis 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 St. Alexis?
- How does this poem by Joyce Kilmer fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The poem explores themes of saintliness, sacrifice, and spirituality, reflecting on the life of a saint.
- Narrative Poetry — The work tells a story about the life and journey of St. Alexis, incorporating elements of narrative structure.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections on faith and devotion, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Allegorical Poetry — The poem uses allegory to convey deeper moral and spiritual lessons through the life of the saint.
Tags
Poetry · Religious · Christianity · Mystery · Folklore · Legend · Saints · Spirituality · Faith · Belief · Devotion · Pilgrimage