London Types: Drum-Major

William Ernest Henley 1849 (Gloucester) – 1903 (Woking)



Who says Drum-Major says a man of mould,
Shaking the meek earth with tremendous tread,
And pacing still, a triumph to behold,
Of his own spine at least two yards ahead!
Attorney, grocer, surgeon, broker, duke-
His calling may be anything, who comes
Into a room, his presence a rebuke
To the dejected, as the pipes and drums
Inspired his port!-who mounts his office stairs
As though he led great armies to the fight!
His bulk itself's pure genius, and he wears
His avoirdupois with so much fire and spright
That, though the creature stands but five feet five,
You take him for the tallest He alive.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
93

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCDEFEAGG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 605
Words 110
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley was an English poet, critic and editor, best remembered for his 1875 poem "Invictus". more…

All William Ernest Henley poems | William Ernest Henley Books

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