In a Restaurant by Sara Teasdale
The poem captures a moment in a restaurant, contrasting the warmth and vibrancy inside with the cold, dark street outside. The imagery evokes a sense of intimacy and sensory richness, highlighting the sounds of clinking dishes and music, as well as the enticing aromas of food. The presence of a child, who observes rather than participates, adds a layer of innocence and longing. The scene shifts from the lively atmosphere of the restaurant to the somber reality of the outside world, where the snow continues to fall, enveloping the figures in a blanket of cold. This juxtaposition emphasizes themes of fleeting joy and the starkness of life beyond the momentary escape provided by the restaurant. The poem ultimately reflects on the transient nature of happiness and the inevitable return to solitude and coldness.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1918 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Imagism, Romanticism · 154 words
First lines
THE darkened street was muffled with the snow, The falling flakes had made your shoulders white, And when we found a shelter from the night Its glamor fell upon us like a blow.
The clash of dishes and the viol and bow Mingled beneath the fever of the light.
The heat was full of savors, and the bright Laughter of women lured the wine to flow.
A little child ate nothing while she sat Watching a woman at a table there Lean to a kiss beneath a drooping hat.
What this Textopian page supports
In a Restaurant is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Imagism, Romanticism, Modernism, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 154 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In a Restaurant by Sara Teasdale
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In a Restaurant?
- How does this poem by Sara Teasdale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and sensory experiences, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Imagism — The vivid imagery and focus on specific moments align with the principles of Imagism.
- Romanticism — Themes of beauty, nature, and emotional depth reflect Romantic ideals.
- Modernism — The poem's structure and themes exhibit modernist characteristics, such as a focus on subjective experience.
Tags
restaurant · winter · snow · shelter · light · laughter · wine · child · observation · intimacy · contrast · atmosphere