Meeting in the Woods
In Madison Julius Cawein's Meeting in the Woods, a young man named John meets a mysterious woman in the woods. She is a beautiful, mysterious figure, and John is instantly captivated by her. She tells him that she is a spirit of the woods, and that she has been watching him for some time. She tells him that she has been sent to him by the gods to help him find his true purpose in life. John is hesitant at first, but eventually agrees to follow her. She leads him through the woods, and they eventually come to a clearing where a group of people are gathered. They are all dressed in white, and they are all singing and dancing. John is amazed by the beauty of the scene, and he soon realizes that these people are all spirits of the woods. The woman tells John that he must join them in their celebration, and he does so. As he dances and sings with them, he begins to understand the true meaning of life and his place in it. He learns that he must find his own path and follow it, and that he must be true to himself. At the end of the night, the woman tells John that he must now go back to the world of the living and use the knowledge he has gained to make a difference. John returns to the world of the living, and he is changed forever. He is now a wiser, more enlightened person, and he is determined to make a difference in the world.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1902 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Nature Poetry, Fantasy Poetry · 310 words
First lines
Through ferns and moss the path wound to A hollow where the touchmenots Swung h. orns of honey filled with dew; And where -- like foot-prints -- violets blue And bluets made sweet sapphire blots, 'Twas there that she had passed he knew.
The grass, the very wilderness On either side, breathed rapture of Her passage: 'twas her hand or dress That touched some tree -- a slight caress -- That made the wood-birds sing above; Her step that made the flowers up-press.
What this Textopian page supports
Meeting in the Woods 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: Romantic Poetry, Nature Poetry, Fantasy Poetry, Romantic Fiction
- Length: 310 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Meeting in the Woods by Madison Cawein
- 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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Discussion starters
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- How does this poem by Madison Cawein fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The book is a collection of poems written by Madison Julius Cawein, a renowned romantic poet.
- Nature Poetry — The poems in the book are largely focused on nature and the beauty of the outdoors.
- Fantasy Poetry — The poems in the book often contain elements of fantasy and the supernatural, such as talking animals and mythical creatures.
- Romantic Fiction — The poems in the book often contain romantic themes and imagery, such as love and longing.
Tags
American poetry · blots · blue · bluets · breathed · dew · either · face · ferns · filled · foot · grass