The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 06 / Poems from the Breakfast Table Series

Name: The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 06 / Poems from the Breakfast Table Series
Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Poetry

About This Book

The collection gathers lyric and occasional poems that move between reflective nature imagery, domestic and social sketches, gentle satire, and conversational moralizing. Short lyrics meditate on mortality, memory, and spiritual growth using sea and seasonal metaphors; lighter pieces trade in ironic humor and civic commentary; several narrative lyrics adopt parable-like forms to illustrate practical wisdom. The voice alternates playful wit and solemn tenderness, favoring rhetorical clarity, imagistic detail, and moral reflection across varied meters and concise forms.

About the Author

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was an American physician, poet, and essayist, known for his contributions to literature and his role in the development of American thought in the 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time and is best remembered for his work "A Mortal Antipathy," which explores themes of love and social interaction through a unique narrative style. Holmes was also a key member of the Fireside Poets, a group that included notable contemporaries such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell. His essays, particularly those in "Medical Essays, 1842-1882," reflect his keen observations on society and culture, showcasing his wit and intellect.