The Clouded Sun by Joyce Kilmer
This poem explores the theme of nature's beauty and its relationship to human existence. It describes a sun shrouded by clouds, symbolizing the impermanence of life and the fleeting nature of human experience. The speaker reflects on the transience of life, comparing it to the ephemeral quality of cloud formations in the sky.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Elegy · 600 words
First lines
(To A. S.)
It is not good for poets to grow old For they serve Death that loves and Love that kills; And Love and Death, enthroned above the hills, Call back their faithful servants to the fold Before Age makes them passionless and cold.
What this Textopian page supports
The Clouded Sun 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, Elegy, Romanticism, Philosophical
- Length: 600 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of youth, mortality, and the nature of artistic expression.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry, particularly regarding love and loss.
- Elegy — The themes of mourning and remembrance suggest an elegiac quality, as it reflects on the loss of vitality and the passage of time.
- Romanticism — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience aligns with Romantic ideals, particularly in the celebration of youth and beauty.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Personification · Simile · Alliteration · Enjambment · Free Verse · Romanticism · Pessimism