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Poem
October 27, 1949
The Prison Mirror
Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
A poem praising the transformative power of the printing press, where scattered metal letters form words that shape history, nations, morality, and convey divine love, highlighting their potential for good or ill.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
The Printer's Case
In the case lie bits of metal
Each a letter on its end;
Just a mass of scattered fragments,
Nothing there to comprehend.
But the printer deftly takes them,
Puts each letter in its place;
And the language of a nation
Comes forth from the printer's case.
Wondrous thoughts are framed and spoken
By the type at printer's call—
Words of love or hate or passion,
Cause a nation's rise or fall.
Words that stir up strife and conflict
Make men shed their brother's blood,
Words that point the way to heaven,
Tell the mighty love of God.
Men of might and men of valor.
Make the hist'ry of the race.
Good and bad deeds are recorded
By the type within the case.
Oh, the power that here lies dormant!
Wondrous power no man can face
In those little bits of metal
Lying in the printer's case.
W. H. Richards in Inland Printer
In the case lie bits of metal
Each a letter on its end;
Just a mass of scattered fragments,
Nothing there to comprehend.
But the printer deftly takes them,
Puts each letter in its place;
And the language of a nation
Comes forth from the printer's case.
Wondrous thoughts are framed and spoken
By the type at printer's call—
Words of love or hate or passion,
Cause a nation's rise or fall.
Words that stir up strife and conflict
Make men shed their brother's blood,
Words that point the way to heaven,
Tell the mighty love of God.
Men of might and men of valor.
Make the hist'ry of the race.
Good and bad deeds are recorded
By the type within the case.
Oh, the power that here lies dormant!
Wondrous power no man can face
In those little bits of metal
Lying in the printer's case.
W. H. Richards in Inland Printer
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Political
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Printer's Case
Power Of Words
Printing Press
Moral Deeds
Nation's History
Love Of God
What entities or persons were involved?
W. H. Richards In Inland Printer
Poem Details
Title
The Printer's Case
Author
W. H. Richards In Inland Printer
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Oh, The Power That Here Lies Dormant!
Wondrous Power No Man Can Face
In Those Little Bits Of Metal
Lying In The Printer's Case.