In Summer by Madison Cawein (1902)
The poem captures the essence of summer through vivid imagery and sensory details. It evokes a pastoral setting where nature flourishes, characterized by the sounds of birds and the scents of clover fields. The speaker reflects on intimate moments shared with a beloved, emphasizing themes of love and nostalgia. In the first section, the evening is depicted as a tranquil time, with the vesper-sparrow's song and the fading light of dusk. The warmth of the woodland envelops the farm, creating a romantic atmosphere. The speaker expresses a longing to reunite with their beloved at a designated meeting place, underscoring the significance of shared experiences and the joy of love. The second section continues this exploration of summer's beauty, highlighting the stillness of the night, the calls of crickets, and the gentle presence of fireflies. The imagery of wild-rose petals falling in the lane symbolizes the fleeting nature of summer and love. The speaker desires to walk closely with their beloved, reiterating the importance of connection and the comfort found in familiar words and gestures. Overall, the work encapsulates the warmth, beauty, and emotional depth of summer, intertwining nature with personal relationships, and celebrating the simple yet profound moments of love.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1902 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romantic Poetry · 191 words
First lines
When in dry hollows, hilled with hay, The vesper-sparrow sings afar; And, golden gray, dusk dies away Beneath the amber evening-star: There, where a warm and shadowy arm The woodland lays around the farm, To meet you where we kissed, dear heart, To kiss you at the tryst, dear heart, To kiss you at the tryst!
When clover fields smell cool with dew, And crickets cry, and roads are still; And faint and few the fire-flies strew The dark where calls the whippoorwill; There, in the lane, where sweet again The petals of the wild-rose rain, To stroll with head to head, dear heart, And say the words oft said, dear heart, And say the words oft said!
What this Textopian page supports
In Summer 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, Nature Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Pastoral Poetry, Seasonal Poetry
- Length: 191 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In Summer by Madison Cawein
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In Summer?
- How does this poem by Madison Cawein fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and feelings, focusing on love and nature, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — The vivid imagery of the natural landscape and seasonal elements highlights the beauty of summer, a key theme in nature poetry.
- Romantic Poetry — The themes of love and intimacy, along with the idealized portrayal of nature, align with the characteristics of Romantic poetry.
- Pastoral Poetry — The setting in rural landscapes and the focus on simple, idyllic life reflect the conventions of pastoral poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Summer · Seasonal · Mood · Atmosphere · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Personification · Free Verse · Stream-of-Consciousness