Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    Old days, old ways, old homes beside the sea;
    Old gardens with old-fashioned flowers aflame,
    Poppy, petunia, and many a name
    Of many a flower of fragrant pedigree.
    Old hills that glow with blue- and barberry,
    And rocks and pines that stand on guard, the same,
    Immutable, as when the Pilgrim came,
    And here laid firm foundations of the Free.
    The sunlight makes the dim dunes hills of snow,
    And every vessel's sail a twinkling wing
    Glancing the violet ocean far away:
    The world is full of color and of glow;
    A mighty canvas whereon God doth fling
    The flawless picture of a perfect day.

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Type of Poem: Sonnet

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a nostalgic homage to old days and places, with a strong emphasis on the natural world, invoking the sea, gardens, hills, rocks, pines, and dunes. The first half of the poem focuses on the past, using repetition of the word "old" to emphasize the enduring nature of the landscape and its connection to history. The consistent use of vivid, colorful imagery, such as "old-fashioned flowers aflame" and "hills that glow with blue," creates a vibrant, lively picture of the setting.

The poem's tone shifts in the second half, transitioning from a focus on the past to a consideration of the present. The imagery becomes more dynamic and expansive, with the sunlight transforming the dunes into "hills of snow" and the sails of vessels twinkling on the ocean. The use of the present tense and the phrase "The world is full of color and of glow" suggest a sense of appreciation and reverence for the ongoing beauty of the world. This shift in focus hints at the theme of the cyclical nature of time and the enduring beauty of the natural world, as symbolized by the "mighty canvas" on which God paints the "flawless picture of a perfect day." The poem's structure, a sonnet, further underscores these themes, emphasizing continuity and a sense of timelessness.