Campus Sonnets: 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 05, 2023

36 sec read
87

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCD XEBEFF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 647
Words 122
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 6

Stephen Vincent Benet

Stephen Vincent Benét was an American author, poet, short story writer, and novelist. more…

All Stephen Vincent Benet poems | Stephen Vincent Benet Books

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