Stars by Joyce Kilmer (1914)
The poem describes the beauty of nature and the fleeting nature of life. It compares a tree to a person's life, with its roots representing the past, its trunk the present, and its branches the future. The speaker reflects on how quickly time passes and how easily things can be lost or destroyed.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Nature · 236 words
First lines
(For the Rev. James J. Daly, S. J.)
Bright stars, yellow stars, flashing through the air, Are you errant strands of Lady Mary's hair? As she slits the cloudy veil and bends down through, Do you fall across her cheeks and over heaven too?
Gay stars, little stars, you are little eyes, Eyes of baby angels playing in the skies. Now and then a wingéd child turns his merry face Down toward the spinning world -- what a funny place!
Jesus Christ came from the Cross (Christ receive my soul! ) In each perfect hand and foot there was a bloody hole. Four great iron spikes there were, red and never dry, Michael plucked them from the Cross and set them in the sky.
What this Textopian page supports
Stars is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1914 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: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Nature, Symbolism, Lyrical
- Length: 236 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Stars by Joyce Kilmer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, utilizing rhythm and imagery typical of poetic forms.
- Religious — The themes explore spiritual and religious concepts, particularly relating to Christianity.
- Nature — The imagery of stars and the sky reflects a connection to the natural world.
- Symbolism — The stars and other elements serve as symbols for deeper meanings and spiritual ideas.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Cosmology · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Personification · Enchantment · Romanticism · Optimism · Hope · Spirituality