The Vampire by Madison Cawein (1897)
The poem explores themes of beauty, desire, and the supernatural through a haunting encounter with a mysterious woman. The speaker is captivated by her ethereal appearance, likening her to a delicate flower in a twilight setting. Her beauty is both enchanting and unsettling, evoking a sense of danger. The imagery of nature intertwines with the woman's allure, suggesting a connection between her and the darker aspects of existence. As the speaker interacts with her, he experiences a mix of passion and fear. The kiss he shares with her is described as both cold and intoxicating, symbolizing the duality of pleasure and peril. The woman's presence is enchanting yet ominous, hinting at her otherworldly nature. The speaker acknowledges the powerful hold she has over him, recognizing that he is bound to her by a spell that intertwines love and doom. The poem culminates in a sense of inevitability, as the speaker resigns himself to the fate that awaits him. The woman's witch-like qualities suggest a connection to the supernatural, reinforcing the idea that beauty can be both alluring and destructive. The speaker's longing and despair reflect the tension between desire and the consequences of that desire, ultimately leading to a tragic acceptance of his fate.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1897 · Genre: Poetry, Gothic, Romanticism · 277 words
First lines
/ A lily in a twilight place? / A moonflow'r in the lonely night? -- / Strange beauty of a woman's face / Of wildflow'r-white!
/ The rain that hangs a star's green ray / Slim on a leaf-point's restlessness, / Is not so glimmering green and gray / As was her dress.
/ I drew her dark hair from her eyes, / And in their deeps beheld a while / Such shadowy moonlight as the skies / Of Hell may smile.
/ She held her mouth up redly wan, / And burning cold, -- I bent and kissed / Such rosy snow as some wild dawn / Makes of a mist.
What this Textopian page supports
The Vampire is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1897 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: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Gothic, Romanticism, Horror, Fantasy
- Length: 277 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Vampire by Madison Cawein
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
- Gothic — The themes of darkness, beauty, and supernatural elements align with Gothic literature.
- Romanticism — The focus on emotion, nature, and individual experience reflects Romantic ideals.
- Horror — The presence of a vampire and themes of death and seduction contribute to horror elements.
Tags
Vampire Fiction · Gothic Horror · Supernatural · Dark Fantasy · Romance · Poetry · Classic Literature · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Short Story Collection · Horror · Fiction