Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

D., friends of, can hear of him by James Russell Lowell

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~5 minOpen reading mode →

This poem is a satirical mock-index — a fabricated alphabetical reference list from James Russell Lowell's *The Biglow Papers*, which critiques American politics, religion, slavery, and public figures from the mid-19th century.

Poet
James Russell Lowell
Core theme
Faith
The PoemFull text

D., friends of, can hear of him

James Russell Lowell

Century, nineteenth. Chalk egg, we are proud of incubation of. Chamberlayne, Doctor, consolatory citation from. Chance, an apothegm concerning, is impatient. Chaplain, a one-horse, stern-wheeled variety of. Chappelow on Job, a copy of, lost. Charles I., accident to his neck. Charles II., his restoration, how brought about. Cherubusco, news of, its effects on English royalty. Chesterfield no letter-writer. Chief Magistrate, dancing esteemed sinful by. Children naturally speak Hebrew. China-tree. Chinese, whether they invented gunpowder before the Christian era not considered. Choate hired. Christ, shuffled into Apocrypha, conjectured to disapprove of slaughter and pillage, condemns a certain piece of barbarism. Christianity, profession of, plebeian, whether. Christian soldiers, perhaps inconsistent whether. Cicero, an opinion of, disputed. Cilley, Ensign, author of nefarious sentiment. _Cimex lectularius_. Cincinnati, old, law and order party of. Cincinnatus, a stock character in modern comedy. Civilization, progress of, an alias, rides upon a powder-cart. Clergymen, their ill husbandry, their place in processions, some, cruelly banished for the soundness of their lungs. Clotho, a Grecian lady. Cocked-hat, advantages of being knocked into. College of Cardinals, a strange one. Colman, Dr. Benjamin, anecdote of. Colored folks, curious national diversion of kicking. Colquitt, a remark of, acquainted with some principles of aerostation. Columbia, District of, its peculiar climatic effects, not certain that Martin is for abolishing it. Columbiads, the true fifteen-inch ones. Columbus, a Paul Pry of genius, will perhaps be remembered, thought by some to have discovered America. Columby. Complete Letter-Writer, fatal gift of. Compostella, Saint James of, seen. Compromise system, the, illustrated. Conciliation, its meaning. Congress, singular consequence of getting into, a stumbling-block. Congressional debates found instructive. Constituents, useful for what, 194. Constitution, trampled on, to stand upon what. Convention, what. Convention, Springfield. Coon, old, pleasure in skinning. Co-operation defined. Coppers, _caste_ in picking up of. Copres, a monk, his excellent method of arguing. Corduroy-road, a novel one. Corner-stone, patent safety. Cornwallis, a, acknowledged entertaining. Cotton loan, its imaginary nature. Cotton Mather, summoned as witness. Country, our, its boundaries more exactly defined, right or wrong, nonsense about, exposed, lawyers, sent providentially. Earth's biggest, gets a soul. Courier, The Boston, an unsafe print. Court, General, farmers sometimes attain seats in. Court, Supreme. Courts of law, English, their orthodoxy. Cousins, British, our _ci-devant_. Cowper, W., his letters commended. Credit defined. Creditors all on Lincoln's side. Creed, a safe kind of. Crockett, a good rule of. Cruden, Alexander, his Concordance. Crusade, first American. Cuneiform script recommended. Curiosity distinguishes man from brutes. Currency, Ethiopian, inconveniences of. Cynthia, her hide as a means of conversion. Dædalus first taught men to sit on fences. Daniel in the lion's den. Darkies dread freedom. Davis, Captain Isaac, finds out something to his advantage. Davis, Jefferson (a new species of martyr), has the latest ideas on all subjects, superior in financiering to patriarch Jacob, is _some_, carries Constitution in his hat, knows how to deal with his Congress, astonished at his own piety, packed up for Nashville, tempted to believe his own lies, his snake egg, blood on his hands. Davis, Mr., of Mississippi, a remark of his. Day and Martin, proverbially "on hand." Death, rings down curtain. De Bow (a famous political economist). Delphi, oracle of, surpassed, alluded to. Democracy, false notion of, its privileges. Demosthenes. Destiny, her account. Devil, the, unskilled in certain Indian tongues, letters to and from. Dey of Tripoli. Didymus, a somewhat voluminous grammarian. Dighton rock character might be usefully employed in some emergencies. Dimitry Bruisgins, fresh supply of. Diogenes, his zeal for propagating certain variety of olive. Dioscuri, imps of the pit. District-Attorney, contemptible conduct of one. Ditchwater on brain, a too common ailing. Dixie, the land of. Doctor, the, a proverbial saying of. Doe, Hon. Preserved, speech of. Donatus, profane wish of. Doughface, yeast-proof. Downing Street. Drayton, a martyr, north star, culpable for aiding, whether. Dreams, something about. Dwight, President, a hymn unjustly attributed to.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

Study actions

Take the quizStudy sheet (PDF)

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This poem is a satirical mock-index — a fabricated alphabetical reference list from James Russell Lowell's *The Biglow Papers*, which critiques American politics, religion, slavery, and public figures from the mid-19th century. Each entry mirrors the dry, deadpan style typical of a book's back-of-the-index, but the absurd and pointed content transforms it into sharp political comedy. The humor lies in how serious topics — slavery, war, Jefferson Davis, the Constitution — are presented with the same flat bureaucratic tone as trivial curiosities.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Century, nineteenth. / Chalk egg, we are proud of incubation of.

    Editor's note

    The opening entries establish a satirical tone right away. Lowell pokes fun at the 19th century's self-congratulation, as this era viewed itself as the height of civilization and progress. The "chalk egg" entry, which refers to a fake egg used to trick hens into laying, suggests that the century's pride rests on a hollow decoy rather than genuine accomplishment.

  2. Chance, / an apothegm concerning, / is impatient.

    Editor's note

    The fragmented, sub-entry format resembles a genuine index, but the content is intentionally vague and absurd. "Chance is impatient" sounds like a fortune-cookie saying devoid of context, poking fun at the empty wisdom often found in political speeches and sermons of the time.

  3. Chaplain, a one-horse, stern-wheeled variety of. / Chappelow on Job, a copy of, lost.

    Editor's note

    Lowell takes aim at institutional religion in this piece. By calling a chaplain a "one-horse, stern-wheeled variety" — reminiscent of a shabby riverboat — he strips away the dignity typically associated with clerics. The missing commentary on Job (the biblical figure associated with suffering) serves as a dry joke: a book about enduring hardship has itself gone missing.

  4. Charles I., accident to his neck. / Charles II., his restoration, how brought about.

    Editor's note

    The beheading of King Charles I is described as an "accident" — a grimly humorous understatement. By juxtaposing this with the restoration of Charles II, Lowell highlights the cyclical and often violent absurdity of political power and monarchy, nudging American republican readers who believe they are above such absurdities.

  5. Christ, / shuffled into Apocrypha, / conjectured to disapprove of slaughter and pillage,

    Editor's note

    This is one of the poem's most striking passages. Lowell takes aim at American Christianity for ignoring Christ's true teachings — dismissing his stance against violence as just an opinion — while using faith to rationalize war and slavery. "Shuffled into Apocrypha" suggests that his uncomfortable moral directives have been quietly relegated to a section of scripture that isn’t taken seriously.

  6. Civilization, / progress of, an alias, / rides upon a powder-cart.

    Editor's note

    "Progress of civilization" is just a fancy term — a front for something deeper. Riding a powder-cart suggests that civilization is perched on a ticking bomb, poised to explode. This reflects Lowell's critique of the belief that Western expansion and war signify true human advancement.

  7. Clergymen, / their ill husbandry, / their place in processions,

    Editor's note

    Clergymen often face criticism for their inadequate care ("ill husbandry") of their congregations, moral authority, and resources. The phrase "place in processions" pokes fun at those clergy who walk in step with military and political leaders instead of acting as a moral counterbalance.

  8. Colored folks, curious national diversion of kicking.

    Editor's note

    One of the most striking lines in the poem. Lowell describes the systemic abuse and dehumanization of Black Americans as a "curious national diversion" — echoing the cold, anthropological tone of a 19th-century reference book to highlight how casually and institutionally racist violence was regarded.

  9. Columbus, / a Paul Pry of genius, / will perhaps be remembered,

    Editor's note

    Paul Pry was a well-known, intrusive comic character of his time. Referring to Columbus as a "Paul Pry of genius" diminishes the heroic myth surrounding his discovery—Lowell implies he was more of a meddler who accidentally found something. The phrase "Will perhaps be remembered" carries a sense of dry irony: naturally, he will be remembered, but the wording takes away from the sense of importance.

  10. Constitution, / trampled on, / to stand upon what.

    Editor's note

    The Constitution is depicted as both trampled underfoot and used as a foundation to stand on — a fitting illustration of political hypocrisy. Each side of the slavery debate claimed constitutional authority, and Lowell highlights that contradiction with two succinct phrases.

  11. Country, our, / its boundaries more exactly defined, / right or wrong, nonsense about, exposed,

    Editor's note

    The slogan "My country, right or wrong" was widely used to express patriotism. Lowell dismisses it as nonsense and claims it has been "exposed" or debunked. The mention of the country's boundaries being "more exactly defined" refers to territorial expansion achieved through war, something Lowell was against.

  12. Davis, Jefferson (a new species of martyr), / has the latest ideas on all subjects,

    Editor's note

    Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, receives the longest and harshest entry. Referring to him as "a new species of martyr" drips with sarcasm — Davis insisted he was enduring hardship for a noble cause. The sub-entries are filled with mockery: he believes he knows it all, he’s a worse financier than the biblical Jacob, he carries the Constitution in his hat (treating it like a personal prop), and his hands are stained with blood.

  13. Democracy, / false notion of, / its privileges.

    Editor's note

    Lowell challenges the true meaning of democracy in real life. He targets a "false notion" of democracy — one that leaves out Black Americans, supports slaveholders, and disguises oppression as freedom. The phrase "its privileges" is ironic because the benefits of democracy were never shared equally.

  14. Doughface, yeast-proof. / Downing Street.

    Editor's note

    "Doughface" was a derogatory term for a Northern politician who supported Southern slaveholders — implying they were spineless and easily influenced. "Yeast-proof" suggests they can't even be made to rise — indicating they are beyond redemption or growth. Downing Street, the heart of British government, is nearby, hinting at Britain's involvement with the Confederacy.

  15. Dreams, something about. / Dwight, President, a hymn unjustly attributed to.

    Editor's note

    The poem wraps up its 'D' section with two deflating lines. "Dreams, something about" serves as a wonderfully vague comic reference — it’s about as non-specific as you can get. The last mention of a hymn mistakenly credited to President Dwight is a minor historical correction, but in this context, it comes off as a jab at the triviality of academic record-keeping compared to the significant moral issues discussed earlier.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is dry, deadpan, and sharply satirical. Lowell maintains a flat, bureaucratic voice that echoes the style of an index, intensifying the impact of the content — both atrocities and absurdities are presented with the same neutral tone as mundane facts. Beneath the comedy lies genuine anger, particularly in the entries about slavery, Jefferson Davis, and the distortion of Christianity, yet Lowell never allows this anger to erupt into overt outrage. Instead, humor serves as the weapon.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The index format
The mock-index structure acts as the key symbol here. An index is meant to present knowledge in a neutral and objective way. By using this format to list moral horrors next to trivia, Lowell illustrates how institutions — whether legal, religious, or political — create a facade of order and neutrality to justify injustice.
The chalk egg
A chalk egg is a decoy used in a nest to prompt hens to lay. It represents the 19th century's pride in its own progress, hinting that the achievements of civilization may be empty facades created to foster a comforting illusion of fertility and growth.
The powder-cart
Civilization riding a powder cart symbolizes self-destruction disguised as progress. The cart holds explosive powder — the same tools of war and conquest that "civilization" employs to push forward. It’s a vehicle that is bound to ultimately harm its own passengers.
Jefferson Davis's hat
Davis "carries the Constitution in his hat" — this symbolizes the Confederate argument for constitutional legitimacy. Keeping it in a hat implies it's more of a personal accessory or a convenient prop rather than a true dedication to constitutional values.
Blood on Davis's hands
The final Davis sub-entry serves as the clearest symbol in the poem. After pages filled with ironic understatement, Lowell briefly removes the comic mask to deliver the moral judgment directly: Davis is accountable for deaths, and no claims of martyrdom or piety can erase that fact.
Christ shuffled into the Apocrypha
The Apocrypha are texts viewed as non-canonical—recognizable enough to reference but not obligatory. Using this as a metaphor for how American Christianity approached Christ's teachings on violence and mercy, Lowell suggests that the church maintained Jesus for appearances while discreetly disregarding his more challenging messages.

§06Historical context

Historical context

James Russell Lowell published *The Biglow Papers* in two series: the first during the Mexican-American War (1846–48) and the second during the Civil War (1861–65). This mock index appears in the second series, where Lowell took aim at the Confederacy, slavery, and the political cowardice of Northern "doughfaces." As a Harvard professor, abolitionist, and one of America's leading public intellectuals, Lowell had significant influence. He chose the index format deliberately, mimicking the reference books and encyclopedias that educated 19th-century readers relied on for objective information, then filled that familiar structure with sharp political satire. At the time, issues like Jefferson Davis, the Constitution, and the treatment of Black Americans were pressing topics, and Lowell's readers would have recognized every reference right away.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

What is this poem actually from? It doesn't look like a normal poem.

It comes from The Biglow Papers, a collection of satirical works by James Russell Lowell published during the Civil War. This piece is a mock index — it mimics the back-of-the-book index typical of 19th-century reference books, but instead is packed with political humor and moral insights. Lowell cleverly employed this format to address serious issues like slavery, war, and hypocrisy, all while maintaining a serious tone.

Why is Jefferson Davis called 'a new species of martyr'?

Pure sarcasm. Davis, in his role as president of the Confederacy, portrayed himself as a noble sufferer for a righteous cause — a martyr for Southern independence. Lowell is poking fun at that self-image. Referring to him as a "new species" suggests he has created an entirely new type of martyrdom: one rooted in slavery and treason instead of any real principle.

What does 'doughface' mean?

It was a political jab aimed at a Northern politician in the mid-1800s who always aligned with Southern slaveholders. The depiction is of a doughy face — soft, shapeless, and easily manipulated by whoever exerts the most pressure. Lowell also adds "yeast-proof," suggesting they can’t even rise — they remain forever flat and lacking backbone.

What does Lowell mean when he says Christ was 'shuffled into Apocrypha'?

The Apocrypha are religious texts that occupy a gray area—recognized but not fully accepted as authoritative. Lowell argues that American Christianity has treated Christ's true teachings, particularly his stance against violence, in a similar manner: acknowledged as part of the faith but conveniently overlooked when they become inconvenient. This is a pointed accusation that the churches of his time were neglecting the essence of what they professed to believe.

What is the 'powder-cart' image about?

A powder-cart carries gunpowder—an explosive used in warfare. Lowell suggests that civilization "rides upon" one, indicating that Western progress and expansion are driven by military violence. This also points to an inherent instability: you can't ride a powder-cart indefinitely without it eventually exploding.

Why does Lowell call Columbus a 'Paul Pry of genius'?

Paul Pry was a famous comic character of the time—a nosy and meddlesome busybody who always seemed to show up uninvited. Using that label for Columbus challenges the heroic "discoverer" myth. Lowell suggests that Columbus was really just a clever intruder who came across a continent that was already inhabited, and that celebrating his "discovery" glosses over the reality of what occurred.

What is the point of the entry 'Colored folks, curious national diversion of kicking'?

This is one of Lowell's sharpest lines. By calling the abuse of Black Americans a "curious national diversion"—the sort of phrase you might find in a detached, anthropological reference book discussing a folk custom—he reveals how casually and systematically racist violence became accepted. The flat tone is intentional: it illustrates how a society can record its own cruelty without hesitation, as long as the language remains courteous.

Is this poem meant to be funny?

Yes, intentionally so — but it’s a kind of humor that makes you squirm. Lowell uses comedy to convey serious moral points. The humor lies in the contrast between the dry, neutral index format and the heavy subject matter. By the time you get to "blood on his hands" at the end of the Davis entry, the humor fades completely, revealing that the comedy was always meant to support something much more furious.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Lowell, James Russell. "D., friends of, can hear of him." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/d-friends-of-can-hear-of-him-james-russell-lowell/.

APA

Lowell, J. R. (n.d.). D., friends of, can hear of him. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/d-friends-of-can-hear-of-him-james-russell-lowell/

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

Lowell's mock-index poem weaponizes the apparatus of scholarly organization, the very form designed to impose rational order on knowledge, to expose the grotesque irrationality of antebellum American public life. By casting ideological …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
  • Common student errors
Unlock the full scaffold

Available on any Storgy plan — model paragraphs, band callouts, and common student errors for every poem.

The study desk

Teaching materials and reference tools prepared for this poem.

InteractiveSelf-test

Take the quiz on this poem

Test your reading directly on the page — instant scoring, no signup, no printing.

ReferenceMLA · APA · Chicago

Cite this poem

A properly formatted citation for your essay or bibliography, typeset by deterministic rules — no AI involved.

Adjacent texts in the archive

More by James Russell Lowell

Browse all James Russell Lowell poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about FaithPoems about IdentityPoems about JusticePoems about War

Compared with

Compare this poem with any other →

Poetry tools

Analyze another poem →Rate your own poem →Check rhyme & meter →