Analysis of The Silver Horn

Henry Clay Work 1832 (Middletown, Connecticut) – 1884 (Hartford, Connecticut)



"Come, rest with me now, my silver horn!
My melodious joy, my silver horn!
These many long years my constant friend,
Together let our toiling end.
Yet fain would I ask (were mine the choice)
For a moment of strength to give thee voice--
One silvery peal ere life shall cease;
But not for war--for blessed peace."

Yes! once again ring, sweet silver horn
That long ago rang on battle morn--
From vale and glen that summon'd then
To arms! to arms! a thousand men.
For peace ring now! for peace ring high!
Ring a welcoming peal that shall not die
Till mountain and mound, the earth around,
Responsive songs in echo sound.

"Thy whispers I hear, my silver horn!
My melodious joy, my silver horn!
They comfort me oft with such control,
Methinks thou hast a living soul.
Then cherish we both one calm content;
For the land that we love our powers were spent;
And o're the turf that greens our grave,
For ages may her banner wave."

"I kiss thee adieu, my silver horn!
My melodious joy, my silver horn!"
Then suddenly loos'd the bugler's clasp;
His kiss was but a dying gasp.
Yet marvels of power can love evoke:
At the touch of his lips the bugle spoke!
And wondrously sweet, and clear, and strong,
From thence outrang a silver song.


Scheme aAbbccdd aaeeffgg aAhhiijj aAkkllmm
Poetic Form
Metre 111111101 1010011101 110111101 010110101 111110101 1010111111 110011111 1111111 110111101 110111101 11011101 11110101 11111111 1010011111 110010101 01010101 110111101 1010011101 110111101 1110101 110111110 101111101001 0110111101 11010101 111011101 1010011101 11001011 11110101 1101101101 1011110101 0110101 1110101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,201
Words 230
Sentences 21
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 32
Letters per line (avg) 29
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 235
Words per stanza (avg) 56
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:09 min read
41

Henry Clay Work

Henry Clay Work was an American composer and songwriter. more…

All Henry Clay Work poems | Henry Clay Work Books

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