Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE POET OF THE FUTURE, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: O the poet of the future! He will come to us as comes Last Line: His face to heaven, and the dew of duty on his brow. Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Future; Poetry & Poets; Singing & Singers | ||||||||
O THE Poet of the Future! He will come to us as comes The beauty of the bugle's voice above the roar of drums -- The beauty of the bugle's voice above the roar and din Of battle-drums that pulse the time the victor marches in. His hands will hold no harp, in sooth; his lifted brow will bear No coronet of laurel -- nay, nor symbol anywhere, Save that his palms are brothers to the toiler's at the plow, His face to heaven, and the dew of duty on his brow. He will sing across the meadow, -- and the woman at the well Will stay the dripping bucket, with a smile ineffable; And the children in the orchard will gaze wistfully the way The happy songs come to them, with the fragrance of the hay; The barn will neigh in answer, and the pasture-lands behind Will chime with bells, and send responsive lowings down the wind; And all the echoes of the wood will jubilantly call In sweetest mimicry of that one sweet voice of all. O the Poet of the Future! He will come as man to man, With the honest arm of labor, and the honest face of tan, The honest heart of lowliness, the honest soul of love For human-kind and nature-kind about him and above. His hands will hold no harp, in sooth; his lifted brow will bear No coronet of laurel -- nay, nor symbol anywhere, Save that his palms are brothers to the toiler's at the plow, His face to heaven, and the dew of duty on his brow. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE APOLLO TRIO by CONRAD AIKEN BAD GIRL SINGING by MARK JARMAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 4 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 5 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE THE SONG OF THE NIGHTINGALE IS LIKE THE SCENT OF SYRINGA by MINA LOY A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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