Pennies

Joyce Kilmer 1886 (New Brunswick) – 1918 (Seringes-et-Nesles)



A few long-hoarded pennies in his hand
Behold him stand;
A kilted Hedonist, perplexed and sad.
The joy that once he had,
The first delight of ownership is fled.
He bows his little head.
Ah, cruel Time, to kill
That splendid thrill!

Then in his tear-dimmed eyes
New lights arise.
He drops his treasured pennies on the ground,
They roll and bound
And scattered, rest.
Now with what zest
He runs to find his errant wealth again!

So unto men
Doth God, depriving that He may bestow.
Fame, health and money go,
But that they may, new found, be newly sweet.
Yea, at His feet
Sit, waiting us, to their concealment bid,
All they, our lovers, whom His Love hath hid.

Lo, comfort blooms on pain, and peace on strife,
 And gain on loss.
What is the key to Everlasting Life?
 A blood-stained Cross.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

43 sec read
59

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDD EEFFGGH HIIJJKK LMLM
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 771
Words 146
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 7, 7, 4

Joyce Kilmer

Joyce Kilmer was an American writer and poet mainly remembered for a short poem titled "Trees", which was published in the collection Trees and Other Poems in 1914. more…

All Joyce Kilmer poems | Joyce Kilmer Books

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