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Poem
May 19, 1883
Southern Standard
Mcminnville, Warren County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
The poem contrasts the temporary, ineffective impact of an orator's rousing speech against tyranny with the lasting, transformative power of a poet's song, which earns eternal fame and molds hearts.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The orator spoke and the crowd was hushed,
Men held their breath as the quick words rushed;
Stern eyes grew tearful, cold hearts grew hot;
Though the hours sped by they heeded them not;
And they swore not their fault if they lived not to see
The tyrant and their country free.
The orator ceases—the curtain falls,
The echoes die through the tenantless halls.
They fought in vain, for the orator's word
Stayed not the sweep of the tyrant's sword,
And the riveted chain clank'd on as before,
And the orator's words are remembered no more,
Scanty his guerdon, scanty his fame,
He lives in story only a name.
The poet sang, and the earth grew still
And he moulded men's hearts at his own sweet will;
And they asked his name that it might be enroll'd
With the names of earth's greatest in letters of gold—
And his pale cheek flush'd, and his heart beat high,
And he said, "nor my name nor my song shall die."
Men held their breath as the quick words rushed;
Stern eyes grew tearful, cold hearts grew hot;
Though the hours sped by they heeded them not;
And they swore not their fault if they lived not to see
The tyrant and their country free.
The orator ceases—the curtain falls,
The echoes die through the tenantless halls.
They fought in vain, for the orator's word
Stayed not the sweep of the tyrant's sword,
And the riveted chain clank'd on as before,
And the orator's words are remembered no more,
Scanty his guerdon, scanty his fame,
He lives in story only a name.
The poet sang, and the earth grew still
And he moulded men's hearts at his own sweet will;
And they asked his name that it might be enroll'd
With the names of earth's greatest in letters of gold—
And his pale cheek flush'd, and his heart beat high,
And he said, "nor my name nor my song shall die."
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Political
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Orator
Poet
Tyrant
Freedom
Lasting Fame
Political Speech
Poetic Influence
Poem Details
Subject
Contrast Between Orator And Poet's Influence
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
The Orator Spoke And The Crowd Was Hushed,
Men Held Their Breath As The Quick Words Rushed;
They Fought In Vain, For The Orator's Word
Stayed Not The Sweep Of The Tyrant's Sword,
The Poet Sang, And The Earth Grew Still
And He Moulded Men's Hearts At His Own Sweet Will;
And He Said, "Nor My Name Nor My Song Shall Die."