To J. R. Giddings
Giddings, far rougher names than thine have grownSmoother than honey on the lips of men;And thou shalt aye be honorably known,As one who bravely used his tongue and pen,As best befits a freeman,--even for those,To whom our Law's unblushing front deniesA right to plead against the life-long woesWhich are the Negro's glimpse of Freedom's skies.Fear nothing, and hope all things, as the RightAlone may do securely; every hourThe thrones of Ignorance and ancient NightLose somewhat of their long-usurpèd power,And Freedom's lightest word can make them shiverWith a base dread that clings to them forever.
Words in this poem
- smoother n.
- One who, or that which, smooths.
- shalt
- 2d per. sing. of Shall.
- bravely adv.
- In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly.
- unblushing a.
- Not blushing; shameless.
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
To J. R. Giddings is in the public domain. This text is taken from Poems of James Russell Lowell With biographical sketch by Nathan Haskell Dole, Project Gutenberg ebook #38520; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: James Russell Lowell, To J. R. Giddings, in Poems (1844–1888), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #38520, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/lowell-james-russell-poems/to-j-r-giddings.html, id L13758.
Form and metre
To J. R. Giddings is 14 lines in a single stanza. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 87%). 87% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.2 syllables. 4 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 50% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 ABABCDCDEFEF-- grownA · menB · knownA · penB · thoseC · deniesD · woesC · skiesD · rightE · hourF · nightE · powerF · shiver · forever
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| Giddings, far rougher names than thine have grown | 10 | /˘·/˘····· |
| Smoother than honey on the lips of men; | 10 | /˘·/˘····· |
| And thou shalt aye be honorably known, | 10 | ·····/˘˘˘· |
| As one who bravely used his tongue and pen, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| As best befits a freeman,--even for those, | 10 | ··˘/·/˘/·· |
| To whom our Law's unblushing front denies | 10 | ··/·˘/˘·˘/ |
| A right to plead against the life-long woes | 10 | ·········· |
| Which are the Negro's glimpse of Freedom's skies. | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Fear nothing, and hope all things, as the Right | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Alone may do securely; every hour | 11 | ˘/··˘/˘/˘/˘ |
| The thrones of Ignorance and ancient Night | 10 | ···/˘˘·/˘· |
| Lose somewhat of their long-usurpèd power, | 10 | ·//·····/˘ |
| And Freedom's lightest word can make them shiver | 11 | ·/˘/˘····/˘ |
| With a base dread that clings to them forever. | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.