Araby is a short story by James Joyce published in his 1914 collection Dubliners. It touches on a great number of themes coming of age, the loss of innocence, the life of the mind versus poverty (both physical and intellectual), the consequences of idealization and others. The themes build on one another entirely through the thoughts of the young boy, who is portrayed by the first-person narrator, who writes from memory.
Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom. I thought little of the future. I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration. But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires.