Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WRITTEN IN EMERSON'S ESSAYS, by MATTHEW ARNOLD Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: O monstrous, dead, unprofitable world Last Line: Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery? Subject(s): Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882) | ||||||||
'O MONSTROUS, dead, unprofitable world, That thou canst hear, and hearing, hold thy way. A voice oracular hath peal'd to-day, To-day a hero's banner is unfurl'd. Hast thou no lip for welcome?' So I said. Man after man, the world smil'd and pass'd by: A smile of wistful incredulity As though one spake of noise unto the dead: Scornful, and strange, and sorrowful; and full Of bitter knowledge. Yet the Will is free: Strong is the Soul, and wise, and beautiful: The seeds of godlike power are in us still: Gods are we, Bards, Saints, Heroes, if we will.-- Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FROM THE GROVE PRESS by ANTHONY HECHT ON LOVE: RALPH WALDO EMERSON by EDWARD HIRSCH HOMAGE TO EMERSON, ON NIGHT FLIGHT TO NEW YORK: 1. HIS SMILE by ROBERT PENN WARREN HOMAGE TO EMERSON, ON NIGHT FLIGHT TO NEW YORK: 2. THE WART by ROBERT PENN WARREN HOMAGE TO EMERSON, ON NIGHT FLIGHT TO NEW YORK: 3. THE SPIDER by ROBERT PENN WARREN HOMAGE TO EMERSON, ON NIGHT FLIGHT TO NEW YORK: 4. ONE DRUNK ALLEGORY by ROBERT PENN WARREN HOMAGE TO EMERSON, ON NIGHT FLIGHT TO NEW YORK: 5. MULTIPLICATION by ROBERT PENN WARREN HOMAGE TO EMERSON, ON NIGHT FLIGHT TO NEW YORK: 6. WIND by ROBERT PENN WARREN |
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