Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A LOUNGER, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He leaned against a lamp-post, lost Last Line: No happiness has ever been. Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Idleness; Laziness; Sloth; Indolence | ||||||||
HE leaned against a lamp-post, lost In some mysterious reverie: His head was bowed; his arms were crossed; He yawned, and glanced evasively: Uncrossed his arms, and slowly put Them back again, and scratched his side -- Shifted his weight from foot to foot, And gazed out no-ward, idle-eyed. Grotesque of form and face and dress, And picturesque in every way -- A figure that from day to day Drooped with a limper laziness; A figure such as artists lean, In pictures where distress is seen, Against low hovels where we guess No happiness has ever been. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AGAINST WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S ENCROACHING by CHARLES SIMIC NIKOS AT 42 by REETIKA VAZIRANI ODE ON INDOLENCE by JOHN KEATS IDLENESS by SILAS WEIR MITCHELL VAIN EXCUSE by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
|