Dusk by Madison Cawein (1902)
The poem captures the serene and reflective atmosphere of dusk, portraying a landscape rich in color and emotion. It opens with vivid imagery of corn-colored clouds against a golden sky, evoking a sense of harvest and nostalgia. The twilight is personified, described as gleaning beauty and fragrance from the heavens, enhancing the tranquil yet melancholic mood. The setting is peaceful, with a hushed forest and still hills, interrupted only by the gentle sounds of a brook and the distant call of a whippoorwill. This tranquility mirrors the speaker's introspective feelings, as they contemplate a beloved's name, likening it to a sweet bee within a rose, suggesting a deep connection and affection. The poem explores themes of nature, memory, and longing, intertwining the beauty of the natural world with personal emotions. The dusk serves as a metaphor for transition, both in the day and in the speaker's inner life, highlighting the interplay between light and shadow, joy and sorrow. The imagery evokes a sense of peace, yet also a yearning for something lost or unattainable, encapsulating the complexity of human emotions in the face of nature's beauty.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1902 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Poetry · 179 words
First lines
/ Corn-colored clouds upon a sky of gold, / And 'mid their sheaves, -- where, like a daisy-bloom / Left by the reapers to the gathering gloom, / The star of twilight glows, -- as Ruth, 'tis told, / Dreamed homesick 'mid the harvest fields of old, / The Dusk goes gleaning color and perfume / From Bible slopes of heaven, that illume / Her pensive beauty deep in shadows stoled. / Hushed is the forest; and blue vale and hill / Are still, save for the brooklet, sleepily / Stumbling the stone with one foam-fluttering foot: / Save for the note of one far whippoorwill, / And in my heart _her_ name, -- like some sweet bee / Within a rose, -- blowing a faery flute.
Similar titles
- Dusk In The Woods by Madison Cawein
- A Gray Day by Madison Cawein
- In The Wood by Madison Cawein
- A Summer Evening by W. B. Yeats
- Late October by Madison Cawein
- Rain by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem's focus on personal emotion and vivid imagery aligns it closely with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature, beauty, and emotional depth reflect the ideals of the Romantic movement.
- Nature Poetry — The poem extensively describes natural elements and their beauty, emphasizing the connection between nature and human emotion.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols, such as the 'star of twilight' and 'whippoorwill', conveys deeper meanings and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Sunset · Twilight · Mood · Atmosphere · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Personification · Emotion · Reflection
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Dusk is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Poetry, Symbolism, Imagism
- Length: 179 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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