The Useless Ones

The Useless Ones

Original Text
James Jeffrey Roche, Life of John Boyle O'Reilly ... Together with his Complete Poems and Speeches, edited by Mrs. John Boyle O'Reilly (New York: Cassell, 1891): 424-25. PS 2493 R6 Robarts Library
1Poets should not reason:
2     Let them sing!
3Argument is treason --
4     Bells should ring.
5Statements none, nor questions;
7Spirit-cries, suggestions,
8     Like the birds.
9He may use deduction
10     Who must preach;
11He may praise instruction
12     Who must teach;
13But the poet duly
14     Fills his part
15When the song bursts truly
16     From his heart.
17For no purpose springing;
19He must do the singing
20     For itself.
21Not in lines austerely
22     Let him build;
23Not the surface merely
24     Let him gild.
25Fearless, uninvited,
26     Like a spring.
27Opal-words, inlighted,
28     Let him sing.
29As the leaf grows sunward
30     Song must grow;
31As the stream flows onward
32     Song must flow.
34     Roses die,
35But their breath gives pleasure --
36     God knows why!

Notes

6] Gnomic: aphoristic, given to pithy sayings. Back to Line
18] pelf: money. Back to Line
33] for measure: for quantifying. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1891
Publication Notes
"... published in the Pilot of February 1 [1890] .... This poem had been read, in his absence, by his friend Benjamin Kimball, at the dinner of the Papyrus Club, in December [1889]" (Life, p. 343).
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2002
Rhyme