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Holidays

A poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1877) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher who wrote about nature, self-reliance, and the human spirit. 'Holidays' was first published in the nineteenth century as part of his collected poems. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. Emerson uses the simple image of an acorn and a playful girl to explore a timeless question: how do we move from the freedom of childhood into the responsibilities of adult life? The poem invites young readers to see that growing up is not a loss, but a calling—each stage of life has its own purpose and beauty.

Band

Green · Independent readers, earlyTypical starting range: ages 9–11

Length

medium · about 761 words in 4 sections · 3 pictures

Source

Poems, Ralph Waldo Emerson

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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