Wherefore by Madison Cawein (1909)
The work explores existential themes, questioning the meaning of life, death, and the value of human endeavors. The speaker grapples with the inevitability of mortality and the transient nature of existence. They reflect on the futility of striving for permanence in a world where all achievements and creations ultimately return to dust. The speaker expresses a deep skepticism about the significance of art, love, and labor, suggesting that despite their apparent importance, they may ultimately be as insubstantial as mere thoughts. This leads to a profound sense of disillusionment, as the speaker contemplates the teachings of religion and societal norms that promote the idea of a meaningful life. The tension between the desire for understanding and the acceptance of life's impermanence is central to the narrative. The speaker's internal conflict reveals a struggle against the weight of existential despair, questioning the purpose of human effort in the face of inevitable decay. The work ultimately presents a bleak view of existence, challenging the reader to confront the harsh realities of life and the search for meaning amidst uncertainty.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1909 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Romanticism · 192 words
First lines
/ I would not see, yet must behold / The truth they preach in church and hall; / And question so, -- Is death then all, / And life an idle tale that's told?
/ The myriad wonders art hath wrought / I deemed eternal as God's love: / No more than shadows these shall prove, / And insubstantial as a thought.
/ And love and labor, who have gone, / Hand in close hand, and civilized / The wilderness, these shall be prized / No more than if they had not done.
/ Then wherefore strive? Why strain and bend / Beneath a burden so unjust? / Our works are builded out of dust, / And dust their universal end.
What this Textopian page supports
Wherefore is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1909 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: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Romanticism, Lyric, Reflective
- Length: 192 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Wherefore by Madison Cawein
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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- Problems by Emily Dickinson
- Except To Heaven She Is Nought by Emily Dickinson
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- An Address To Night by Madison Cawein
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential questions about life, death, and the meaning of existence.
- Romanticism — The work reflects Romantic ideals, emphasizing emotion, nature, and individual experience.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Philosophical · Existential · Meditative · Nature · Solitude · Self-Discovery · Spirituality · Inquiry · Questioning · Uncertainty · Doubt