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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO THE CRICKET by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE CHIMING SEAS MAY CLANG; AND
Last Line: THOU POOR PLEBEIAN MINSTREL OF THE HEARTH.
Subject(s): CRICKETS; SEA; SINGING & SINGERS; OCEAN;

THE chiming seas may clang; and Tubal Cain
May clink his tinkling metals as he may;
Or Pan may sit and pipe his breath away;
Or Orpheus wake his most entrancing strain
Till not a note of melody remain! --
But thou, O cricket, with thy roundelay,
Shalt laugh them all to scorn! So wilt thou, pray
Trill me thy glad song o'er and o'er again:
I shall not weary; there is purest worth
In thy sweet prattle, since it sings the lone
Heart home again. Thy warbling hath no dearth
Of childish memories -- no harsher tone
Than we might listen to in gentlest mirth,
Thou poor plebeian minstrel of the hearth.



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