The Thorn by Joyce Kilmer (1913)
This poem is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and beauty. It describes a thorn bush that has been ravaged by time and weather, its once-beautiful flowers now wilted and dead. The speaker reflects on how even the most beautiful things are subject to decay and destruction, and how nothing lasts forever.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1913 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Symbolism · 164 words
First lines
(For the Rev. Charles L. O'Donnell, C. S. C.)
The garden of God is a radiant place, / And every flower has a holy face: / Our Lady like a lily bends above the cloudy sod, / But Saint Michael is the thorn on the rose-bush of God. / David is the song upon God's lips, / And Our Lady is the goblet that He sips: / And Gabriel's the breath of His command, / But Saint Michael is the sword in God's right hand.
The Ivory Tower is fair to see, / And may her walls encompass me! / But when the Devil comes with the thunder of his might, / Saint Michael, show me how to fight!
What this Textopian page supports
The Thorn 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: Religious Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Symbolism, Nature Poetry, Heroic Poetry
- Length: 164 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Thorn 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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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work explores themes of divinity, saints, and spiritual warfare, characteristic of religious poetry.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyric poetry.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols like 'thorn' and 'rose-bush' conveys deeper meanings related to faith and struggle.
- Nature Poetry — Imagery of the garden and flowers connects to nature, a common theme in poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Personification · Alliteration · Enjambment · Free Verse · Romanticism · Whimsy · Fantasy