Eight stanzas each with the rime scheme abcb. Imagery
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| Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight
(In Springfield, Illinois) By: Vachel Lindsay
“Portentous” (signals that it is an event that needs to be reported) “Pacing” (signals that he is worried)
It is portentous, and a thing of state That here at midnight, in our little town
Near the old court-house pacing up and down, 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.
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, The prairie-lawyer, master of us all.
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. Imagery: A bowed head signals that Lincoln is 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. 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, Too many homesteads in black terror weep. 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. 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. 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. He cannot rest until a spirit-dawn Shall come;--the shining hope of Europe free: The league of sober folk, the Workers' Earth, Bringing long peace to Cornland, Alp and Sea. It breaks his heart that kings must murder still,
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