The Complete Poetical Works - Of Oliver Wendell Holmes

Originally published in 1872. The Complete, Poetic Works of OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. PUBLISHERS’ NOTE: THIS Edition of The Complete, Poetic Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes is the fourth in a series which includes the poems and dramas of Longfel low, Whittier, and Browning. It follows in its scheme the plan of the previous volumes. The editor was at some disadvantage in not being able to avail himself of the Life of Dr. Holmes which is now in preparation, but the frequent autobio graphical passages in the writings of the author enabled him to illustrate a career devoid, even more than that of most poets, of adventure or dramatic incident. The head-notes, in like manner, could frequently be supplied from comment occur ring in the author’s prose writings and in prefaces to separate publications of poems, but very many of the poems are so self-explanatory that the reader requires IM> introduction. The policy has been pursued, as in the former cases, of taking the latest collec tive edition issued in the poet’s lifetime as the pattern to be followed both in text and in arrangement, but the opportunity has been used to include a few poems which were written after the latest edition appeared or had by some accident failed to receive the author’s attention when he was making up his final collection ; no attempt, however, has been made, in gathering the early poems, to go outside of the volumes in which they were originally included. It is assumed that Dr. Holmes when making up these volumes intentionally disregarded some of the poems scattered through periodicals. This is confirmed by the attitude which he took when his attention was called to the omission upon the occasion of the issue of the Riverside Edition. He refused to give them a refuge even in an appendix. The arrangement here is the same as in the Riverside Edition, with some slight modification, chiefly caused by the introduction of new material. In accordance with the plan of this series and with Dr. Holmes’s original intention when the Riverside Edition was prepared, the Juvenilia are placed in an appendix in smaller type. Throughout the volume, whether in head-notes or in those placed in the appendix, the editor’s work is distinguished by the use of brackets. Contents include: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ... id TO MY READERS 1 EARLIER POEMS ( 1830-1836). OLD IRONSIDES .... 3 THE LAST LEAF 4 THE CAMBRIDGE CHURCHYARD . 5 To AN INSECT 7 THE DILEMMA 7 MY AUNT 8 REFLECTIONS OF A PROUD PEDES TRIAN 8 DAILY TRIALS, BY A SENSITIVE MAN 9 EVENING, BY A TAILOR ... 9 THE DORCHESTER GIANT . . .10 To THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY 11 THE COMET 11 THE MUSIC-GRINDERS ... 12 THE TREADMILL ISONG .1.5 THE SEPTEMBER GALE 1.3 THE HEIGHT OF THE RIDICULOUS . 11 THE LAST READER . . . . 14 POETRY : A METRICAL ESSAY . . 13 POEMS PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1837 AND 1848. THE PILGRIM’S VISION ... 26 THE STEAMBOAT 28 LEXINGTON 28 ON LENDING A PUNCH-BOWL . . 29 A SONG FOR THE CENTENNIAL CEL EBRATION OF HARVARD COLLEGE, 18. T> 30 THE ISLAND HUNTING-SONO 31 DEPARTED DAYS .... 32 THE ONLY DAUGHTER . . .32 SONO WRITTEN FOR THE DlNNER GIVEN TO CHARLES DICKENS, BY THE YOUNG MEN OF BOSTON, FEB RUARY 1, 1842 . 33 LlNES RECITED AT THE BERKSHIRE JUBILEE, PITTSFIELD, MASS., AUG UST 23, 1844 33 NUX POSTCCKNATICA ... 35 VERSES FOR AFTER-DINNER 36 rial A MODEST REQUEST, COMPLIED WITH AFTER THE DlNNER AT PRESIDENT EVERETT’S INAUGURATION . 37 THE PARTING WORD .... 40 A SONG OF OTHER DAYS . . 41 SONG FOR A TEMPERANCE DINNER TO WHICH LADIES WERE INVITED ( NEW YORK MERCANTILE LIBRARY