Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO EDGAR WILSON NYE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: O 'WILLIAM,' IN THY BLITHE COMPANIONSHIP
Last Line: ONLY BECAUSE THOU JOKEST OVERWELL.
Subject(s): FRIENDSHIP; HAPPINESS; JOY; DELIGHT;

O "WILLIAM," in thy blithe companionship
What liberty is mine -- what sweet release
From clamorous strife, and yet what boisterous peace!
Ho! ho! it is thy fancy's finger-tip
That dints the dimple now, and kinks the lip
That scarce may sing, in all this glad increase
Of merriment! So, pray-thee, do not cease
To cheer me thus; -- for, underneath the quip
Of thy droll sorcery, the wrangling fret
Of all distress is stilled -- no syllable
Of sorrow vexeth me -- no tear-drops wet
My teeming lids save those that leap to tell
Thee thou'st a guest that overweepeth, yet
Only because thou jokest overwell.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net