# Lines on Mt. Elgin explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A poem delivered at the opening of an Odd Fellows' Lodge in Dereham, celebrating the pioneer settlers who cleared the forests and transformed the land into fertile farms, and expressing hope that the lodge will foster friendship, love, and truth among its members.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pioneer and Settler Struggles

The poem describes how the fathers 'overcame the foemen' by hewing mighty forests and burning 'heaps of slain' trees, leading to sons reaping golden grain.

### Community and Social Gatherings

The opening of the Odd Fellows' Lodge is a community event, with hopes that the lodge will be a blessing to the neighborhood and teach friendship, love, and truth.

## Key lines

> Dereham now hath wealthy yoemen Whose fathers overcame the foemen; The enemy they boldly slew Was mighty forests they did hew, And where they burned heaps of slain Their sons now reap the golden grain.

Dereham now has prosperous farmers whose fathers conquered the wilderness by cutting down vast forests and burning the debris, and now their sons harvest the abundant crops.

_Highlights the transition from pioneer struggle to agricultural success._

> Your candidates now, in their youth, Will soon learn friendship, love and truth.

Your young candidates will soon be taught the values of friendship, love, and truth.

_Expresses the moral and educational purpose of the Odd Fellows' Lodge._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/lines-on-mt-elgin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters