Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WITHOUT AND WITHIN, by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: My coachman, in the moonlight there Last Line: And just another bored without. Subject(s): Cynicism; Social Classes; Caste | ||||||||
MY coachman, in the moonlight there, Looks through the side-light of the door; I hear him with his brethren swear, As I could do,--but only more. Flattening his nose against the pane, He envies me my brilliant lot, Breathes on his aching fists in vain, And dooms me to a place more hot. He sees me in to supper go, A silken wonder by my side, Bare arms, bare sboulders, and a row Of flounces, for the door too wide. He thinks how happy is my arm 'Neath its white-gloved and jewelled load; And wishes me some dreadful harm, Hearing the merry corks explode. Meanwhile I inly curse the bore Of hunting still the same old coon, And envy him, outside the door, In golden quiets of the moon. The winter wind is not so cold As the bright smile he sees me win, Nor the host's oldest wine so old As our poor gabble sour and thin I envy him the ungyved prance With which his freezing feet he warms, And drag my lady's-chains and dance The galley-slave of dreary forms. O, could he have my share of din, And I his quiet!--past a doubt 'Twould still be one man bored within, And just another bored without. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WEALTH OF THE DESTITUTE by DENISE LEVERTOV THE GATEKEEPER'S CHILDREN by PHILIP LEVINE THE SWIMMING POOL by THOMAS LUX POEM BEGINNING WITH A RANDOM PHRASE FROM COLERIDGE by THOMAS LUX FRESCOES FOR MR. ROCKEFELLER'S CITY: BURY GROUND BY THE TIES by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH INVOCATION TO THE SOCIAL MUSE by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH FORTUNO CARRACCIOLI by ROBERT MCALMON AN AMERICAN POEM by EILEEN MYLES AFTER THE BURIAL by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL |
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