Edgar Allan Poe – Model Verses

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“Do tell! when may we hope to make men of sense out of the Pundits
Born and brought up with their snouts deep down in the mud of the Frog-pond?
Why ask? who ever yet saw money made out of a fat old
Jew, or downright upright nutmegs out of a pine-knot?“
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“Model Verses” is a short set of poems written by Edgar Allan Poe. They were first published in “The Rationale of Verse” and include the poem “Evangeline”.

This article features a complete, text version of “Model Verses“ by Edgar Allan Poe.

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Model Verses
by
Edgar Allan Poe

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[I. “Triple-rhymed natural-dactylic lines”]

Virginal Lilian, rigidly, humblily, dutiful;
Saintlily, lowlily,
Thrillingly, holily
Beautiful!

[II. An “iambic line” in which “there are no natural feet”]

The unimaginable might of Jove.

[III. “Dactylic lines in which we find natural feet” — that is, feet made up of undivided words]

Can it be fancied that Deity ever vindictively
Made in his image a mannikin merely to madden it?

[IV. A “trochaic line”]

See the delicate footed rein-deer.

[V. Line illustrating the “error … of commencing a rhythm … with a ‘bastard’ foot”]

Many a thought will come to memory.

[VI. Line illustrating (in the syllable son) a “variable foot” with the value of three short syllables”]

I have a little stepson of only three years old.

[VII. Line illustrating (in the last word) a foot with the value of four short syllables]

Pale as a lily was Emily Gray.

[VIII. Lines to show that “a truly Greek hexameter” can be composed in English] [page 394:]

Do tell! when may we hope to make men of sense out of the Pundits
Born and brought up with their snouts deep down in the mud of the Frog-pond?
Why ask? who ever yet saw money made out of a fat old
Jew, or downright upright nutmegs out of a pine-knot?