Summer Heat

Eugene Field 1850 (St. Louis) – 1895 (Chicago)



Nay, why discuss this summer heat,
Of which vain people tell?
Oh, sinner, rather were it meet
To fix thy thoughts on hell!

The punishment ordained for you
In that infernal spot
Is het by Satan's impish crew
And kept forever hot.

Sumatra might be reckoned nice,
And Tophet passing cool,
And Sodom were a cake of ice
Beside that sulphur pool.

An awful stench and dismal wail
Come from the broiling souls,
Whilst Satan with his fireproof tail
Stirs up the brimstone coals.

Oh, sinner, on this end 'tis meet
That thou shouldst ponder well,
For what, oh, what, is worldly heat
Unto the heat of hell?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
151

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH ABAB
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 583
Words 110
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Eugene Field

Eugene Field, Sr. was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. more…

All Eugene Field poems | Eugene Field Books

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