Nature - A poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Nature

As a fond mother, when the day is o'er,
Leads by the hand her little child to bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led, 
And leave his broken playthings on the floor,
Still gazing at them through the open door, 
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which though more splendid, may not please him more;
So Nature deals with us, and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand
Leads us to rest so gently, that we go
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand 
How far the unknown transcends the what we know.

Added: on January 19th, 2009 at 12:25 PM | Viewed: 6225 times | Comments and analysis of Nature by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Comments (7)

Nature - Comments and Information
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Art) Poem: Nature Volume: Birds Of Passage Poem of the Day: Oct 20 2009 Comment 7 of 7, added on June 28th, 2009 at 2:15 PM. I have a packet for summerschool and in there are a bunch of questions about this poem. one of the questions are: What are the "playthings" mentioned in line 10? a)a child;s toys b) adult status symbols c) The people and things that fill our lives d) irritating things that happen in life e) Favorite activities i think its C. this may change your thinking about the meaning of "Playthings". im not sure though... Lulu from United States Comment 6 of 7, added on January 20th, 2009 at 6:59 AM. in the poem there is a very critical scene between the comparison of afond mother & the nature. mother promises her child to give him supeerior playthings aftyer this but here we can ot get any chance from the nature to get any superior world from yhis than where we liuve. here it is a universal truth is explained which cannoty be explained by t5he situation handling between the mother and the child.it is a very common thing that the mother will take her child to bed but nature vtakes us when our lifespan is over. aman jadon from Bulgaria Comment 5 of 7, added on January 19th, 2009 at 12:25 PM. The poet says that one can find the answers of all questions in nature.In this poem, man are compared to a child.All worldly things are our toys(playthings), we are playing them,but when the sleep time -death- we are reluctant to go.That's why the theme is death,I think too."His broken playthings" symbolizes what we lived in the past. Yesim from Turkey More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Nature, has received 7 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poem: Nature Volume: Birds Of Passage Last read: Nov 28 2009, 7:03PM Poem of the Day: Oct 20 2009 Viewed 6225 times. Added on January 19th, 2009 at 12:25 PM.

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