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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LONGFELLOW (2) by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: O GENTLEST KINSMAN OF HUMANITY
Last Line: OF COMMON HUMAN NEED OF KINDLINESS.
Subject(s): DEATH; HEARTS; LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH (1807-1882); LOVE; DEAD, THE;

O GENTLEST kinsman of Humanity!
Thy love hath touched all hearts, even as thy Song
Hath touched all chords of music that belong
To the quavering heaven-strung harp of harmony:
Thou hast made man to feel and hear and see
Divinely; -- made the weak to be the strong;
By thy melodious magic, changed the wrong
To changeless right -- and joyed and wept as we.
Worlds listen, lulled and solaced at the spell
That folds and holds us -- soul and body, too, --
As though thy songs, as loving arms in stress
Of sympathy and trust ineffable,
Were thrown about us thus by one who knew
Of common human need of kindliness.



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