Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POET OF THE FUTURE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

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.
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.



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