Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE STATUE, by ELLA (RHOADS) HIGGINSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE STATUE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: That I might chisel a statue, line on line
Last Line: Enough, enough! We know thy statue's name!'
Subject(s): Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865); Presidents, United States; Statues


That I might chisel a statue, line on line,
Out of a marble's chaste severities!
Angular, harsh; no softened curves to please;
Set tears within the eyes to make them shine.
And furrows on the brow, deep, stern, yet fine;
Gaunt, awkward, tall; no courtier of ease;
The trousers bulging at the bony knees;
Long nose, large mouth - But ah, the light divine
Of Truth, - the light that set a people free! -
Burning upon it in a steady flame,
As sunset fires a white peak on the sky -
Ah, God! To leave it nameless and yet see
Men looking weep and bow themselves and cry -
'Enough, enough! We know thy statue's name!'




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