Poems
''Poems'' is a collection of poetry by William Dean Howells, written in the late 19th century. The poems explore themes of love, loss, and nature, using evocative imagery to convey complex human emotions. Notable for its emotional depth, the collection begins with ''The Pilot's Story,'' which recounts a poignant tale of a woman sold into slavery, set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River. Howells's lyrical expressions invite readers to engage with both the beauty of nature and the weight of despair.
Editions
X-Ray
“We wear the mask that grins and lies,It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,”
— William Dean Howells
“A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,A pint of joy to a peck of trouble,And never a laugh but the moans come double;And that is life!A crust and a corner that love makes precious,With a smile to warm and the tears to refresh us;And joy seems sweeter when cares come after,And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter;And that is life!””
— William Dean Howells
“Slight was the thing I bought, Small was the debt I thought, Poor was the loan at best”
— William Dean Howells
“A minute to smile and an hour to weep in, A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double; And that is life! A crust and a corner that love makes precious, With a smile to warm and the tears to refresh us; And joy seems sweeter when cares come after, And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter; And that is life!””
— William Dean Howells
