Oliver Wendell Holmes was a skilled poet and physician. He’s considered to be one of the preeminent Fireside Poets and has been considered as one of the best poets of the mid-1800s. His writing is often referred to as family-friendly, conventional, and easy to relate to. Read more of Oliver Wendell Holmes’ Biography.
‘God Save the Flag’ by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a simple, optimistic, and passionate poem in which the speaker emphatically delivers his opinion on the United States.Â
Washed in the blood of the brave and the blooming,
Snatched from the altars of insolent foes,
Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,
Flash its broad ribbons of lily and rose.
Oliver Wendell Holmes’s ‘The Last Leaf’ portrays the physical decline of an elderly man and explores themes of mortality and acceptance.
I saw him once before,
As he passed by the door,
And again
The pavement stones resound,
‘Old Ironsides’ by Oliver Wendell Holmes speaks on the glory of the USS Constitution on the eve of its decommissioning from the service.
‘The Chambered Nautilus’ by Oliver Wendell Holmes is an interesting and beautiful poem. In it, the poet describes the nautilus and the life of struggle and improvement it engages in.
‘The Living Temple’ by Oliver Wendell Holmes describes the relationship between humankind and God’s marvellous natural creation.Â
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