Something Childish, but very Natural

Name: Something Childish, but very Natural
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The poem explores themes of longing, love, and the contrast between dreams and reality. The speaker expresses a desire to escape to a beloved, imagining the freedom of flight as a metaphor for love and connection. However, this desire is tempered by the acknowledgment of its impossibility, leading to a sense of isolation in waking life. In the first section, the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of sleep and dreams, where they can be with their beloved. The imagery of wings and birds symbolizes the yearning for closeness and the idealized nature of love. The transition from the dream state to waking life highlights the stark loneliness that accompanies reality, emphasizing the emotional struggle between desire and the constraints of existence. The poem continues to delve into the complexities of human emotions, illustrating the tension between the ideal and the real. The speaker's musings reveal a deep sense of nostalgia and a longing for a simpler, more innocent time, where love felt more attainable. The natural world serves as a backdrop, enhancing the emotional landscape and underscoring the connection between nature and human experience. As the poem progresses, the speaker grapples with the inevitability of waking life, where dreams cannot sustain the heart's desires. The interplay of light and darkness symbolizes hope and despair, with the dawn representing both a new day and the return to solitude. The speaker's reflections evoke a sense of melancholy, as they navigate the boundaries of imagination and reality. Ultimately, the work captures the essence of human longing, the beauty of dreams, and the pain of separation. It invites readers to contemplate the nature of love, the passage of time, and the enduring hope that exists even in moments of solitude. The lyrical quality of the language enhances the emotional depth, making the exploration of these themes resonate on multiple levels.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1930 · Genre: Romanticism, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry · 164 words

First lines

WRITTEN IN GERMANY

If I had but two little wings And were a little feathery bird, To you I'd fly, my dear! But thoughts like these are idle things, And I stay here.

But in my sleep to you I fly: I'm always with you in my sleep! The world is all one's own. But then one wakes, and where am I? All, all alone.

Sleep stays not, though a monarch bids: So I love to wake ere break of day: For though my sleep be gone, Yet while 'tis dark, one shuts one's lids, And still dreams on.

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Something Childish, but very Natural is listed on Textopian as a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1930 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 1930 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romanticism, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Children's Literature
Length: 164 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Similar titles

Genres

Romanticism — The poem embodies themes of nature, emotion, and the idealization of love, characteristic of Romantic literature.
Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal feelings and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry, focusing on the speaker's emotional state.
Nature Poetry — Nature is a central theme, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the natural world and its connection to human emotion.
Philosophical Poetry — The poem explores existential themes, such as solitude and the nature of dreams versus reality.