Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ICONOCLAST, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He slid like lightning down the steeple Last Line: But, 'ware the wonder-birth! Subject(s): Iconoclasm | ||||||||
He slid like lightning down the steeple, -- Flashed through their streets like rapid flame, In rags and tatters red and yellow, With tongue in cheek -- a waspish fellow. He louped and leered at all the people And bade them blush for shame. He seemed the gadfly Io lowed at, The sheep-tick in their sheepish wool. He woke their sleep with ribald laughter. Their prejudices quaked thereafter. Their each sententiousness he strode at, And seized its nose to pull. They held hard by their ancient steadings, While dust-clouds rose and cobwebs flew. Ubiquitous he pranced to pillage Each hallowed custom of their village. Their rural prints all blazed with headings: "The dog shall have his due!" Stout burgesses grew yellow-mottled With spleen. Stout constables pursued The whirling waif. Still laughing madder He banged them with his buffoon's bladder. He choked their mayor scarlet-wattled, With cries of "Platitude!" A town of pride, a town of decent And comfortable lights and views Was Snore-by-Day, with none to scorn it, When suddenly forthbuzzed this hornet, Flame-hot, heretically recent, To startle and confuse. So for his day he held the rostrum -- Electric messenger to Earth! And eyes were rubbed and heart-beats heightened. The town awoke. The town was frightened. They'll sleep again in half a lustrum -- But, 'ware the wonder-birth! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COLD TEMPERAMENT by WILLIAM ROSE BENET A PASSSGE TO ITALY by WILLIAM ROSE BENET A SONG OF DAWN AT DUSK by WILLIAM ROSE BENET A STREET MOTHER by WILLIAM ROSE BENET AFTER-SIGHT by WILLIAM ROSE BENET AGNOSTIC TO MYSTIC by WILLIAM ROSE BENET AN EMISSARY TO HEAVEN by WILLIAM ROSE BENET AS FROM THE PAST -- by WILLIAM ROSE BENET BOOKS ET VERITAS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |
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