Careful Words

poem (n.)

  He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things ought himself to be a true poem.

John Milton (1608-1674): Apology for Smectymnuus.

  We hold that the most wonderful and splendid proof of genius is a great poem produced in a civilized age.

Thomas B Macaulay (1800-1859): On Milton. 1825.

  There is no heroic poem in the world but is at bottom a biography, the life of a man; also it may be said, there is no life of a man, faithfully recorded, but is a heroic poem of its sort, rhymed or unrhymed.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881): Sir Walter Scott. London and Westminster Review, 1838.

Mordre wol out, that see we day by day.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1328-1400): Canterbury Tales. The Nonnes Preestes Tale. Line 15058.

A poem round and perfect as a star.

Alexander Smith (1830-1867): A Life Drama. Sc. ii.

As children gath'ring pebbles on the shore.

Or if I would delight my private hours

With music or with poem, where so soon

As in our native language can I find

That solace?

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line 330.