Talk
Stephen Vincent Benet 1898 (Bethlehem) – 1943 (New York City)
Tobacco smoke drifts up to the dim ceiling
From half a dozen pipes and cigarettes,
Curling in endless shapes, in blue rings wheeling,
As formless as our talk. Phil, drawling, bets
Cornell will win the relay in a walk,
While Bob and Mac discuss the Giants' chances;
Deep in a morris-chair, Bill scowls at "Falk",
John gives large views about the last few dances.
And so it goes -- an idle speech and aimless,
A few chance phrases; yet I see behind
The empty words the gleam of a beauty tameless,
Friendship and peace and fire to strike men blind,
Till the whole world seems small and bright to hold --
Of all our youth this hour is pure gold.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 28, 2023
- 36 sec read
- 43 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABABCDCD XEBEFF |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 649 |
Words | 122 |
Stanzas | 2 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 6 |
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"Talk" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/35812/talk>.
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