The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — CompleteFront matterReading editionChapter navigation325 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterTHE POETICAL WORKSTO MY READERSEARLIER POEMSTHE LAST LEAFTHE CAMBRIDGE CHURCHYARDTO AN INSECTTHE DILEMMAMY AUNTREFLECTIONS OF A PROUD PEDESTRIANDAILY TRIALSEVENINGTHE DORCHESTER GIANTTO THE PORTRAIT OF "A LADY" IN THE ATHENAEUM GALLERYTHE COMETTHE MUSIC-GRINDERSTHE TREADMILL SONGTHE SEPTEMBER GALETHE HEIGHT OF THE RIDICULOUSTHE LAST READERPOETRY:ADDITIONAL POEMSTHE STEAMBOATLEXINGTONON LENDING A PUNCH-BOWLA SONGTHE ISLAND HUNTING-SONGDEPARTED DAYSTHE ONLY DAUGHTERSONGLINESNUX POSTCOENATICAVERSES FOR AFTER-DINNER PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY, 1844A MODEST REQUESTTHE PARTING WORDA SONG OF OTHER DAYSSONGA SENTIMENTA RHYMED LESSON (URANIA)AN AFTER-DINNER POEMMEDICAL POEMSTHE TWO ARMIESTHE STETHOSCOPE SONGEXTRACTS FROM A MEDICAL POEMA POEMA SENTIMENTRIP VAN WINKLE, M. D.SONGS IN MANY KEYSTHE PLOUGHMAN ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 4, 1849THE STUDYTHE BELLSNON-RESISTANCETHE MORAL BULLYTHE MIND'S DIETOUR LIMITATIONSTHE OLD PLAYERA POEMTO GOVERNOR SWAINTO AN ENGLISH FRIENDAFTER A LECTURE ON WORDSWORTHAFTER A LECTURE ON MOOREAFTER A LECTURE ON KEATSAFTER A LECTURE ON SHELLEYAT THE CLOSE OF A COURSE OF LECTURESTHE HUDSONTHE NEW EDENSEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22, 1855FAREWELLFOR THE MEETING OF THE BURNS CLUBODE FOR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAYBIRTHDAY OF DANIEL WEBSTERTHE VOICELESSTHE TWO STREAMSTHE PROMISEAVISTHE LIVING TEMPLEAT A BIRTHDAY FESTIVALA BIRTHDAY TRIBUTETHE GRAY CHIEFTHE LAST LOOKIN MEMORY OF CHARLES WENTWORTH UPHAM, JR.MARTHAMEETING OF THE ALUMNI OF HARVARD COLLEGETHE PARTING SONGFOR THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SANITARY ASSOCIATIONFOR THE BURNS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONAT A MEETING OF FRIENDSFOR THE FAIR IN AID OF THE FUND TO PROCURE BALL'S STATUE OF WASHINGTONTHE OLD MAN OF THE SEA A NIGHTMARE DREAM BY DAYLIGHTINTERNATIONAL ODEA SENTIMENT OFFERED AT THE DINNER TO H. I. H. THE PRINCE NAPOLEON, AT THE REVERE HOUSE, SEPTEMBER 25,1861BROTHER JONATHAN'S LAMENT FOR SISTER CAROLINETHE POETICAL WORKSPOEMS OF THE CLASS OF '29A SONG OF "TWENTY-NINE"QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSAN IMPROMPTUTHE OLD MAN DREAMSREMEMBER—FORGETOUR INDIAN SUMMERMARE RUBRUMTHE BOYSLINESA VOICE OF THE LOYAL NORTHJ. D. R.VOYAGE OF THE GOOD SHIP UNION"CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE"F. W. C.THE LAST CHARGEOUR OLDEST FRIENDSHERMAN 'S IN SAVANNAHMY ANNUALALL HEREONCE MORETHE OLD CRUISERADDED FOR THE ALUMNI MEETING, JUNE 29,HYMN FOR THE CLASS-MEETINGEVEN-SONG.THE SMILING LISTENEROUR SWEET SINGERH. C. M. H. S. J. K. W.WHAT I HAVE COME FORFOR CLASS MEETING"AD AMICOS"HOW NOT TO SETTLE ITTHE LAST SURVIVORTHE ARCHBISHOP AND GIL BLASTHE SHADOWSBENJAMIN PEIRCEIN THE TWILIGHTA LOVING-CUP SONGTHE GIRDLE OF FRIENDSHIPTHE LYRE OF ANACREONTHE OLD TUNETHE BROKEN CIRCLETHE ANGEL-THIEFAFTER THE CURFEWPOEMS FROM THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BREAKFAST-TABLESUN AND SHADOWMUSAA PARTING HEALTHWHAT WE ALL THINKSPRING HAS COMEPROLOGUELATTER-DAY WARNINGSALBUM VERSESA GOOD TIME GOING!THE LAST BLOSSOMCONTENTMENTAESTIVATIONTHE DEACON'S MASTERPIECEPARSON TURELL'S LEGACYODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETINGPOEMS FROM THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLEHYMN OF TRUSTA SUN-DAY HYMNTHE CROOKED FOOTPATHIRIS, HER BOOKROBINSON OF LEYDENST. ANTHONY THE REFORMERTHE OPENING OF THE PIANOMIDSUMMERDE SAUTYPOEMS FROM THE POET AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLEFANTASIAAUNT TABITHAWIND-CLOUDS AND STAR-DRIFTSEPILOGUE TO THE BREAKFAST-TABLE SERIES AUTOCRAT-PROFESSOR-POETSONGS OF MANY SEASONSPROGRAMMEIN THE QUIET DAYSDOROTHY Q.THE ORGAN-BLOWERAT THE PANTOMIMEAFTER THE FIREA BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTYNEARING THE SNOW-LINEIN WARTIME"THUS SAITH THE LORD, I OFFER THEE THREE THINGS."NEVER OR NOWONE COUNTRYGOD SAVE THE FLAGHYMN AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATIONHYMN FOR THE FAIR AT CHICAGOUNDER THE WASHINGTON ELM, CAMBRIDGEFREEDOM, OUR QUEENARMY HYMNPARTING HYMN "DUNDEE"THE FLOWER OF LIBERTYTHE SWEET LITTLE MANUNION AND LIBERTYSONGS OF WELCOME AND FAREWELLWELCOME TO THE GRAND DUKE ALEXISAT THE BANQUET TO THE GRAND DUKE ALEXISAT THE BANQUET TO THE CHINESE EMBASSYAT THE BANQUET TO THE JAPANESE EMBASSYBRYANT'S SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAYA FAREWELL TO AGASSIZAT A DINNER TO ADMIRAL FARRAGUTAT A DINNER TO GENERAL GRANTTO H. W. LONGFELLOWTO CHRISTIAN GOTTFRIED EHRENBERGA TOAST TO WILKIE COLLINSMEMORIAL VERSESFOR THE COMMEMORATION SERVICESEDWARD EVERETTSHAKESPEAREIN MEMORY OF JOHN AND ROBERT WAREHUMBOLDT'S BIRTHDAYPOEMHYMNHYMNHYMNRHYMES OF AN HOURA SEA DIALOGUECHANSON WITHOUT MUSICFOR THE CENTENNIAL DINNERA POEM SERVED TO ORDERTHE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTHNO TIME LIKE THE OLD TIMEA HYMN OF PEACENOTES.THE POETICAL WORKSBUNKER-HILL BATTLEAT THE "ATLANTIC" DINNER"LUCY"HYMNA MEMORIAL TRIBUTEJOSEPH WARREN, M. D.OLD CAMBRIDGEWELCOME TO THE NATIONSA FAMILIAR LETTERUNSATISFIEDHOW THE OLD HORSE WON THE BETAN APPEAL FOR "THE OLD SOUTH"THE FIRST FANTO R. B. H.THE SHIP OF STATEA FAMILY RECORDTHE IRON GATEVESTIGIA QUINQUE RETRORSUMMY AVIARYON THE THRESHOLDTO GEORGE PEABODYAT THE PAPYRUS CLUBFOR WHITTIER'S SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAYTWO SONNETS: HARVARDTHE COMING ERAIN RESPONSEFOR THE MOORE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONTO JAMES FREEMAN CLARKEWELCOME TO THE CHICAGO COMMERCIAL CLUBAMERICAN ACADEMY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONTHE SCHOOL-BOYTHE SILENT MELODYOUR HOME—OUR COUNTRYPOEMRHYMES OF A LIFE-TIMEBEFORE THE CURFEWOUR DEAD SINGERTWO POEMS TO HARRIET BEECHER STOWEA WELCOME TO DR. BENJAMIN APTHORP GOULDTO FREDERICK HENRY HEDGETO JAMES RUSSELL LOWELLTO JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIERPRELUDE TO A VOLUME PRINTED IN RAISED LETTERS FOR THE BLINDBOSTON TO FLORENCEAT THE UNITARIAN FESTIVALPOEMPOST-PRANDIALTHE FLANEURAVEKING'S CHAPELHYMNHYMN.—THE WORD OF PROMISEHYMNON THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELDTHE GOLDEN FLOWERHAIL, COLUMBIA!POEMTO THE POETS WHO ONLY READ AND LISTENFOR THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW CITY LIBRARY, BOSTONFOR THE WINDOW IN ST. MARGARET'S IN MEMORY OF A SON OF ARCHDEACON FARRARJAMES RUSSELL LOWELLPOEMS FROM OVER THE TEACUPSTHE PEAU DE CHAGRIN OF STATE STREETCACOETHES SCRIBENDITHE ROSE AND THE FERNI LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOULA MAISON D'ORTOO YOUNG FOR LOVETHE BROOMSTICK TRAIN; OR, THE RETURN OF THE WITCHESTARTARUSAT THE TURN OF THE ROADIN VITA MINERVAREADINGS OVER THE TEACUPSTHE BANKER'S SECRETVERSES FROM THE OLDEST PORTFOLIOTRANSLATION FROM THE ENEID, BOOK I.THE MEETING OF THE DRYADSTHE MYSTERIOUS VISITORTHE TOADSTOOLTHE SPECTRE PIGTO A CAGED LIONTHE STAR AND THE WATER-LILYILLUSTRATION OF A PICTUREA ROMAN AQUEDUCTFROM A BACHELOR'S PRIVATE JOURNALLA GRISETTEOUR YANKEE GIRLSL'INCONNUESTANZASLINES BY A CLERKTHE PHILOSOPHER TO HIS LOVETHE POET'S LOTTO A BLANK SHEET OF PAPERTO THE PORTRAIT OF "A GENTLEMAN"THE BALLAD OF THE OYSTERMANA NOONTIDE LYRICTHE HOT SEASONA PORTRAITAN EVENING THOUGHTTHE WASP AND THE HORNET"QUI VIVE?"NOTES.Beginning of this editionNext chapter →THE POETICAL WORKSAll chapters and sections (325)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsTHE POETICAL WORKSTO MY READERSEARLIER POEMSTHE LAST LEAFTHE CAMBRIDGE CHURCHYARDTO AN INSECTTHE DILEMMAMY AUNTREFLECTIONS OF A PROUD PEDESTRIANDAILY TRIALSEVENINGTHE DORCHESTER GIANTTO THE PORTRAIT OF "A LADY" IN THE ATHENAEUM GALLERYTHE COMETTHE MUSIC-GRINDERSTHE TREADMILL SONGTHE SEPTEMBER GALETHE HEIGHT OF THE RIDICULOUSTHE LAST READERPOETRY:ADDITIONAL POEMSTHE STEAMBOATLEXINGTONON LENDING A PUNCH-BOWLA SONGTHE ISLAND HUNTING-SONGDEPARTED DAYSTHE ONLY DAUGHTERSONGLINESNUX POSTCOENATICAVERSES FOR AFTER-DINNER PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY, 1844A MODEST REQUESTTHE PARTING WORDA SONG OF OTHER DAYSSONGA SENTIMENTA RHYMED LESSON (URANIA)AN AFTER-DINNER POEMMEDICAL POEMSTHE TWO ARMIESTHE STETHOSCOPE SONGEXTRACTS FROM A MEDICAL POEMA POEMA SENTIMENTRIP VAN WINKLE, M. D.SONGS IN MANY KEYSTHE PLOUGHMAN ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 4, 1849THE STUDYTHE BELLSNON-RESISTANCETHE MORAL BULLYTHE MIND'S DIETOUR LIMITATIONSTHE OLD PLAYERA POEMTO GOVERNOR SWAINTO AN ENGLISH FRIENDAFTER A LECTURE ON WORDSWORTHAFTER A LECTURE ON MOOREAFTER A LECTURE ON KEATSAFTER A LECTURE ON SHELLEYAT THE CLOSE OF A COURSE OF LECTURESTHE HUDSONTHE NEW EDENSEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22, 1855FAREWELLFOR THE MEETING OF THE BURNS CLUBODE FOR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAYBIRTHDAY OF DANIEL WEBSTERTHE VOICELESSTHE TWO STREAMSTHE PROMISEAVISTHE LIVING TEMPLEAT A BIRTHDAY FESTIVALA BIRTHDAY TRIBUTETHE GRAY CHIEFTHE LAST LOOKIN MEMORY OF CHARLES WENTWORTH UPHAM, JR.MARTHAMEETING OF THE ALUMNI OF HARVARD COLLEGETHE PARTING SONGFOR THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SANITARY ASSOCIATIONFOR THE BURNS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONAT A MEETING OF FRIENDSFOR THE FAIR IN AID OF THE FUND TO PROCURE BALL'S STATUE OF WASHINGTONTHE OLD MAN OF THE SEA A NIGHTMARE DREAM BY DAYLIGHTINTERNATIONAL ODEA SENTIMENT OFFERED AT THE DINNER TO H. I. H. THE PRINCE NAPOLEON, AT THE REVERE HOUSE, SEPTEMBER 25,1861BROTHER JONATHAN'S LAMENT FOR SISTER CAROLINETHE POETICAL WORKSPOEMS OF THE CLASS OF '29A SONG OF "TWENTY-NINE"QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSAN IMPROMPTUTHE OLD MAN DREAMSREMEMBER—FORGETOUR INDIAN SUMMERMARE RUBRUMTHE BOYSLINESA VOICE OF THE LOYAL NORTHJ. D. R.VOYAGE OF THE GOOD SHIP UNION"CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE"F. W. C.THE LAST CHARGEOUR OLDEST FRIENDSHERMAN 'S IN SAVANNAHMY ANNUALALL HEREONCE MORETHE OLD CRUISERADDED FOR THE ALUMNI MEETING, JUNE 29,HYMN FOR THE CLASS-MEETINGEVEN-SONG.THE SMILING LISTENEROUR SWEET SINGERH. C. M. H. S. J. K. W.WHAT I HAVE COME FORFOR CLASS MEETING"AD AMICOS"HOW NOT TO SETTLE ITTHE LAST SURVIVORTHE ARCHBISHOP AND GIL BLASTHE SHADOWSBENJAMIN PEIRCEIN THE TWILIGHTA LOVING-CUP SONGTHE GIRDLE OF FRIENDSHIPTHE LYRE OF ANACREONTHE OLD TUNETHE BROKEN CIRCLETHE ANGEL-THIEFAFTER THE CURFEWPOEMS FROM THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BREAKFAST-TABLESUN AND SHADOWMUSAA PARTING HEALTHWHAT WE ALL THINKSPRING HAS COMEPROLOGUELATTER-DAY WARNINGSALBUM VERSESA GOOD TIME GOING!THE LAST BLOSSOMCONTENTMENTAESTIVATIONTHE DEACON'S MASTERPIECEPARSON TURELL'S LEGACYODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETINGPOEMS FROM THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLEHYMN OF TRUSTA SUN-DAY HYMNTHE CROOKED FOOTPATHIRIS, HER BOOKROBINSON OF LEYDENST. ANTHONY THE REFORMERTHE OPENING OF THE PIANOMIDSUMMERDE SAUTYPOEMS FROM THE POET AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLEFANTASIAAUNT TABITHAWIND-CLOUDS AND STAR-DRIFTSEPILOGUE TO THE BREAKFAST-TABLE SERIES AUTOCRAT-PROFESSOR-POETSONGS OF MANY SEASONSPROGRAMMEIN THE QUIET DAYSDOROTHY Q.THE ORGAN-BLOWERAT THE PANTOMIMEAFTER THE FIREA BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTYNEARING THE SNOW-LINEIN WARTIME"THUS SAITH THE LORD, I OFFER THEE THREE THINGS."NEVER OR NOWONE COUNTRYGOD SAVE THE FLAGHYMN AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATIONHYMN FOR THE FAIR AT CHICAGOUNDER THE WASHINGTON ELM, CAMBRIDGEFREEDOM, OUR QUEENARMY HYMNPARTING HYMN "DUNDEE"THE FLOWER OF LIBERTYTHE SWEET LITTLE MANUNION AND LIBERTYSONGS OF WELCOME AND FAREWELLWELCOME TO THE GRAND DUKE ALEXISAT THE BANQUET TO THE GRAND DUKE ALEXISAT THE BANQUET TO THE CHINESE EMBASSYAT THE BANQUET TO THE JAPANESE EMBASSYBRYANT'S SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAYA FAREWELL TO AGASSIZAT A DINNER TO ADMIRAL FARRAGUTAT A DINNER TO GENERAL GRANTTO H. W. LONGFELLOWTO CHRISTIAN GOTTFRIED EHRENBERGA TOAST TO WILKIE COLLINSMEMORIAL VERSESFOR THE COMMEMORATION SERVICESEDWARD EVERETTSHAKESPEAREIN MEMORY OF JOHN AND ROBERT WAREHUMBOLDT'S BIRTHDAYPOEMHYMNHYMNHYMNRHYMES OF AN HOURA SEA DIALOGUECHANSON WITHOUT MUSICFOR THE CENTENNIAL DINNERA POEM SERVED TO ORDERTHE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTHNO TIME LIKE THE OLD TIMEA HYMN OF PEACENOTES.THE POETICAL WORKSBUNKER-HILL BATTLEAT THE "ATLANTIC" DINNER"LUCY"HYMNA MEMORIAL TRIBUTEJOSEPH WARREN, M. D.OLD CAMBRIDGEWELCOME TO THE NATIONSA FAMILIAR LETTERUNSATISFIEDHOW THE OLD HORSE WON THE BETAN APPEAL FOR "THE OLD SOUTH"THE FIRST FANTO R. B. H.THE SHIP OF STATEA FAMILY RECORDTHE IRON GATEVESTIGIA QUINQUE RETRORSUMMY AVIARYON THE THRESHOLDTO GEORGE PEABODYAT THE PAPYRUS CLUBFOR WHITTIER'S SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAYTWO SONNETS: HARVARDTHE COMING ERAIN RESPONSEFOR THE MOORE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONTO JAMES FREEMAN CLARKEWELCOME TO THE CHICAGO COMMERCIAL CLUBAMERICAN ACADEMY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONTHE SCHOOL-BOYTHE SILENT MELODYOUR HOME—OUR COUNTRYPOEMRHYMES OF A LIFE-TIMEBEFORE THE CURFEWOUR DEAD SINGERTWO POEMS TO HARRIET BEECHER STOWEA WELCOME TO DR. BENJAMIN APTHORP GOULDTO FREDERICK HENRY HEDGETO JAMES RUSSELL LOWELLTO JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIERPRELUDE TO A VOLUME PRINTED IN RAISED LETTERS FOR THE BLINDBOSTON TO FLORENCEAT THE UNITARIAN FESTIVALPOEMPOST-PRANDIALTHE FLANEURAVEKING'S CHAPELHYMNHYMN.—THE WORD OF PROMISEHYMNON THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELDTHE GOLDEN FLOWERHAIL, COLUMBIA!POEMTO THE POETS WHO ONLY READ AND LISTENFOR THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW CITY LIBRARY, BOSTONFOR THE WINDOW IN ST. MARGARET'S IN MEMORY OF A SON OF ARCHDEACON FARRARJAMES RUSSELL LOWELLPOEMS FROM OVER THE TEACUPSTHE PEAU DE CHAGRIN OF STATE STREETCACOETHES SCRIBENDITHE ROSE AND THE FERNI LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOULA MAISON D'ORTOO YOUNG FOR LOVETHE BROOMSTICK TRAIN; OR, THE RETURN OF THE WITCHESTARTARUSAT THE TURN OF THE ROADIN VITA MINERVAREADINGS OVER THE TEACUPSTHE BANKER'S SECRETVERSES FROM THE OLDEST PORTFOLIOBooks1Book 1 · Other sectionsTHE MEETING OF THE DRYADSTHE MYSTERIOUS VISITORTHE TOADSTOOLTHE SPECTRE PIGTO A CAGED LIONTHE STAR AND THE WATER-LILYILLUSTRATION OF A PICTUREA ROMAN AQUEDUCTFROM A BACHELOR'S PRIVATE JOURNALLA GRISETTEOUR YANKEE GIRLSL'INCONNUESTANZASLINES BY A CLERKTHE PHILOSOPHER TO HIS LOVETHE POET'S LOTTO A BLANK SHEET OF PAPERTO THE PORTRAIT OF "A GENTLEMAN"THE BALLAD OF THE OYSTERMANA NOONTIDE LYRICTHE HOT SEASONA PORTRAITAN EVENING THOUGHTTHE WASP AND THE HORNET"QUI VIVE?"NOTES.Produced by David Widger◇THE POETICAL WORKS →