Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE PENDING YEAR by WALT WHITMAN

Poet Analysis

First Line: HAVE I NO WEAPON-WORD FOR THEE -- SOME MESSAGE BRIEF AND FIERCE?
Last Line: CROUCH LOW THY NECK TO ELEEMOSYNARY GIFTS.
Subject(s): HOLIDAYS; NEW YEAR;
Have I no weapon-word for thee -- some message brief and fierce?
(Have I fought out and done indeed the battle?) Is there
no shot left,
For all thy affectations, lisps, scorns, manifold silliness?
Nor for myself -- my own rebellious self in thee?

Down, down, proud gorge! -- though choking thee;
Thy bearded throat and high-borne forehead to the gutter;
Crouch low thy neck to eleemosynary gifts.



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