The Passing Glory by Madison Cawein
The poem explores themes of transience, decay, and the passage of time through vivid imagery and personification. The setting transitions from a vibrant sunset to a somber autumn landscape, symbolizing the inevitable decline of life and nature. The sun, described as a "great carbuncle ball," casts a red hue over a garden overtaken by weeds, representing neglect and the end of vitality. The figure of Fall is depicted as a solitary woman, embodying loss and nostalgia, wandering through a landscape that reflects her desolation. The imagery of decaying woodlands and the tattered shawl emphasizes the fragility of beauty and the inevitability of change. The wind, characterized as an "angry hand," disrupts the stillness, suggesting a force that accelerates the decline of the season and life itself. As dead leaves fall like "melancholy sand," the poem conveys a sense of mourning for what has passed, marking the end of a cycle. The use of metaphors and sensory details evokes a poignant atmosphere, inviting reflection on the nature of existence and the relentless march of time. The work ultimately encapsulates the beauty and sorrow intertwined in the natural world, highlighting the bittersweet essence of life's fleeting moments.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Romanticism · 169 words
First lines
Slow sinks the sun, -- a great carbuncle ball Red in the cavern of a sombre cloud, -- And in her garden, where the dense weeds crowd. Among her dying asters stands the Fall, Like some lone woman in a ruined hall, Dreaming of desolation and the shroud; Or through decaying woodlands goes, down-bowed, Hugging the tatters of her gipsy shawl. The gaunt wind rises, like an angry hand, And sweeps the sprawling spider from its web, Smites frantic music in the twilight's ear; And all around, like melancholy sand, Rains dead leaves down -- wild leaves, that mark the ebb, In Earth's dark hour-glass, of another year.
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The Passing Glory is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Romanticism, Symbolism, Lyrical
- Length: 169 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Similar titles
- Evening by Emily Dickinson
- Lines by John Keats
- Stanzas by John Keats
- Transposed Seasons by Madison Cawein
- Indian Summer by Emily Dickinson
- The Last Walk In Autumn by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Nature — The imagery and themes focus heavily on natural elements and seasonal change.
- Romanticism — The themes of melancholy, nature, and emotional depth align with Romantic literary characteristics.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols, such as the sun and autumn, conveys deeper meanings and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Nature · Impermanence · Mortality · Beauty · Fleeting Moments · Loss · Longing · Nostalgia · Memory · Time