The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 09 The Iron Gate and Other Poems

"The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 09" by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a collection of poems written during the late 19th century. This volume features works composed between 1877 and 1881, encompassing various themes such as aging, friendship, nature, and personal reflections. The poems often celebrate the beauty of life while acknowledging its inevitable transitions. In this volume, Holmes presents a variety of poems that evoke nostalgia and reverence for the past. Notably, “The Iron Gate” explores the realities of aging and the memories associated with it, capturing a farewell to youth and an appreciation of life's legacies. Other poems pay tribute to acquaintances and notable figures, such as Whittier and George Peabody, showcasing Holmes's ability to intertwine personal sentiment with broader cultural reflections. The collection also features poems that connect natural imagery with human experiences, while demonstrating Holmes’s characteristic wit and insight into humanity. Through his lyrical mastery, Holmes connects past experiences to the present, inviting readers to contemplate their own journeys through time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was an American physician, poet, and polymath based in Boston. Grouped among the fireside poets, he was acclaimed by his peers as one of the best writers of the day. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series, which began with The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858). He was also an important medical reformer. In addition to his work as an author and poet, Holmes also served as a physician, professor, lecturer, inventor, and, although he never practiced it, he received formal training in law.