What I Have Come For

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

I have come with my verses - I think I may claim It is not the first time I have tried on the same. They were puckered in rhyme, they were wrinkled in wit; But your hearts were so large that they made them a fit. I have come - not to tease you with more of my rhyme, But to feel as I did in the blessed old time; I want to hear him with the Brobdingnag laugh - We count him at least as three men and a half. I have come to meet judges so wise and so grand That I shake in my shoes while they're shaking my hand; And the prince among merchants who put back the crown When they tried to enthrone him the King of the Town. I have come to see George - Yes, I think there are four, If they all were like these I could wish there were more. I have come to see one whom we used to call "Jim," I want to see - oh, don't I want to see him? I have come to grow young - on my word I declare I have thought I detected a change in my hair! One hour with "The Boys" will restore it to brown - And a wrinkle or two I expect to rub down. Yes, that's what I've come for, as all of us come; When I meet the dear Boys I could wish I were dumb. You asked me, you know, but it's spoiling the fun; I have told what I came for; my ditty is done.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry

More Poems

More Lyric Poems

Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:

This poem is a nostalgic reflection on the joys of camaraderie, youth, and community, woven together with a keen sense of wit and self-deprecation. The poet presents a series of playful and affectionate vignettes, using humor to underscore the deep bonds and shared history within this group of friends.

The structure of the poem is consistent, with a rhyming couplet format that lends a rhythmic, harmonious quality to the narrative. This sense of rhythm and harmony is further echoed in the themes of unity and togetherness that run throughout the poem. The poet skillfully uses rhymes and metaphors, particularly in the lines, "They were puckered in rhyme, they were wrinkled in wit; But your hearts were so large that they made them a fit," to subtly emphasize the warmth and acceptance within this group.

The tone of the poem is lighthearted and jovial, marked by an undercurrent of yearning for the past. The poet repeatedly expresses a desire to reconnect with old friends and revisit a time when they were younger. This longing for the past is balanced with an appreciation for the present, culminating in the line, "Yes, that's what I've come for, as all of us come; When I meet the dear Boys I could wish I were dumb." This sentiment encapsulates the essence of the poem - a celebration of enduring friendships and the joy of shared memories.