The Iron Pen by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The speaker imagines that a jeweled pen, made with iron from Bonnivard’s fetter and wood from the frigate Constitution, will write his thanks by itself. When it remains motionless, he thanks Helen of Maine and promises to remember her summer gift beneath the garden pines, comparing its blessing to dew on an aged tree.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Tribute · 421 words
First lines
Made from a fetter of Bonnivard, the Prisoner of Chillon; the handle of wood from the Frigate Constitution, and bound with a circlet of gold, inset with three precious stones from Siberia, Ceylon, and Maine.
I thought this Pen would arise / From the casket where it lies -- / Of itself would arise and write / My thanks and my surprise.
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — Rhymed quatrains express the speaker’s surprise, gratitude, and anticipated remembrance of the gift.
- Tribute — The speaker directly thanks Helen of Maine for both the pen and the grace with which she gave it.
Tags
gratitude · gift giving · writing · remembrance
What this Textopian page supports
The Iron Pen is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Tribute
- Length: 421 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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