Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT THE FARRAGUT STATUE, by ROBERT BRIDGES (1858-1941) Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: To live a hero, then to stand Last Line: Still helps to make them loyal, strong, and free! Alternate Author Name(s): Droch Subject(s): Farragut, David Glascow (1801-1870); Heroism; Statues; Washington Square, New York City; Heroes; Heroines | ||||||||
To live a hero, then to stand In bronze serene above the city's throng; Hero at sea, and now on land Revered by thousands as they rush along. If these were all the gifts of fame To be a shade amid alert reality, And win a statue and a name How cold and cheerless immortality! But when the sun shines in the Square, And multitudes are swarming in the street, Children are always gathered there, Laughing and playing round the hero's feet. And in the crisis of the game With boyish grit and ardor it is played You'll hear some youngster call his name: "The Admiralhe never was afraid!" And so the hero daily lives, And boys grow braver as the Man they see! The inspiration that he gives Still helps to make them loyal, strong, and free! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON NOTES FOR AN ELEGY by WILLIAM MEREDITH THE EROTICS OF HISTORY by EAVAN BOLAND A SONG FOR HEROES by EDWIN MARKHAM AFTER THE BROKEN ARM by RON PADGETT PRELUDE; FOR GEOFFREY GORER by EDITH SITWELL EXAMINATION OF THE HERO IN A TIME OF WAR by WALLACE STEVENS A TOAST TO OUR NATIVE LAND by ROBERT BRIDGES (1858-1941) |
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