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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SPIRIT OF '76 by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: DEAR MISS MONROE: PROVIDED YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO USE SMALL LETTERS
Last Line: W. C. WILLIAMS
Subject(s): MONROE, HARRIET (1860-1936); POETRY & POETS;

@3Dear Miss Monroe:@1 Provided you will allow me to use small letters at the
beginning of my lines, I submit the following excellent American poem to you for
publication in your paying magazine:

SPIRIT OF '76

Her father
built a bridge
over
the Chicago River
but she
built a bridge
over the moon.

This, as you will at once recognize, is an excellent poem and very American. I
sincerely hope that no prehistoric prosodic rules will bar it from publication.
Yours,
@3W. C. Williams@1



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