Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight
(In Springfield, Illinois)
By: Vachel Lindsay
The poem consists of eight stanzas each with the rime scheme ABCB.
Imagery: (Figure)“A mourning figure walks”
It is portentous, and a thing of state
(signals sadness)
That here at midnight, in our little town
“Portentous” (signals that it is an event that needs
to be reported)
A mourning figure walks, and will not rest,
“Pacing” (signals that he is worried)
Near the old court-house pacing up and down,
Or by his homestead, or in shadowed yards
He lingers where his children used to play,
Or through the market, on the well-worn stones
He stalks until the dawn-stars burn away.
A bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black,
A famous high top-hat and plain worn shawl
Make him the quaint great figure that men love,
Imagery: (Location) “shadowed yards” signals that
it is dark.
“Lingers” signals that he is thinking about the past
for a long time.
“Stalks…” signals that he is up all night thinking.
Alliteration:
“Well-worn”
Imagery: (Appearance): “bronze, lank wearing a
black suit and top-hat”. These characteristics, the
speaker claims, “make him the quaint great figure
that men love.” And he adds that the figure is “The
prairie-lawyer, master of us all.” This description
makes it quite clear that the figure is Lincoln.
The prairie-lawyer, master of us all.
He cannot sleep upon his hillside now.
He is among us:--as in times before!
And we who toss and lie awake for long
Breathe deep, and start, to see him pass the door.
Metaphor: “his hillside” refers to his grave-Lincoln is
worried and restless and can’t remain in his grave “as
in times before”; he has to come join the other
people of the town who also “toss and lie awake.”
The living people are kept awake by worries, and it is
as if they see Lincoln walking among them.
Imagery: A bowed head signals that Lincoln is
His head is bowed. He thinks on men and kings.
Yea, when the sick world cries, how can he sleep?
Too many peasants fight, they know not why,
thinking…”men and kings” means that he is thinking
about the conditions of the world. He, therefore, is
unable to rest. He stresses over the struggles of poor
people, “too many peasants fight” and “homesteads in
black terror weep”, which signals no hope, fear and
sadness.
Too many homesteads in black terror weep.
The sins of all the war-lords burn his heart.
He sees the dreadnaughts scouring every main.
He carries on his shawl-wrapped shoulders now
The bitterness, the folly and the pain.
He cannot rest until a spirit-dawn
Shall come;--the shining hope of Europe free:
The league of sober folk, the Workers' Earth,
Personification: “The sins of the war-lords burn his
heart.” He can’t forget the horrible things that leaders
have done. These worldly problems “He carries on his
shawl-draped shoulders now / The bitterness, the folly
and the pain.” The figure paces the town at midnight
because of the many worries that trouble the citizens.
Symbolism: The “shawl” signals old age, weariness
and perhaps, the cold--giving him bitter and painful
memories of things done wrong.
Imagery: “He cannot rest…” that Lincoln will not be
able to rest until peace comes to the world: until
Europe is free, and people--“sober folk” or “Worker’s
Earth” wise up and bring long-lasting peace the world
over “to Cornland, Alp, and Sea”--geographic locations
in Europe.
Bringing long peace to Cornland, Alp and Sea.
It breaks his heart that kings must murder still,
That all his hours of travail here for men
Seem yet in vain. And who will bring white peace
That he may sleep upon his hill again?
http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/19628/
Symbolism: “It breaks his heart…” signals that Lincoln
is saddened that kings are still murdering, and all of
his own good work here on earth seems “in vain.” The
poem ends with the question, “And who will bring
white peace / That he may sleep upon his hill again?”
White signals purity/surrender so that Lincoln can
return to his grave in peace.