Poets | Members | Poem of the Day | Top 40 | Search | Comments | Privacy
July 19th, 2008 - we have 237 poets, 8036 poems and 17674 comments.
Edwin Arlington Robinson - Richard Cory

Whenever Richard Cory went down town, 
We people on the pavement looked at him: 
He was a gentleman from sole to crown, 
Clean favored, and imperially slim. 

And he was always quietly arrayed, 
And he was always human when he talked; 
But still he fluttered pulses when he said, 
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. 

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
And admirably schooled in every grace: 
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place. 

So on we worked, and waited for the light, 
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; 
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, 
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Added: on April 21st, 2008 at 11:50 AM | Viewed: 17862 times | Comments and analysis of Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson Comments (77)


Richard Cory - Comments and Information

Poet: Edwin Arlington Robinson
Poem: Richard Cory
Poem of the Day: Sep 11 2000

Comment 77 of 77, added on July 15th, 2008 at 10:58 AM.
On Richard's Corey's death

I've read here some speculations of Richard Corey's death and many have speculated that money, fame and appearance do not necessary be equated to happiness but no one speculating that maybe he was a gay. And probably he really was, and after hiding it for a long time he didn't want to disappoint the people around him thus made him decide curtailing his life.

David from Philippines
Comment 76 of 77, added on April 21st, 2008 at 11:53 AM.

This poem emulates how people can appear to have everything materially, but be very lonely and depressed on the inside. Many teens these days also have feelings like this, maybe not as extreme but they try to appear to be cool and have cool things to impress friends but really your lonely and no one understands you.

Practiceee

Tyler Young from United States
Comment 75 of 77, added on April 21st, 2008 at 11:50 AM.

Robison uses imagery to have Richard Cory seem like a well known and freindly man that everyone admires. Cory is expressed as a man who is enveied by everyone, but they are unable to see how unhappy Cory is with himself and his life. The people Cory says good morining to as he passes by just see his outer shell, unfortunately they don't see how he is buring inside and is struggling to fight his will to live.

Cindy H from United States

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Richard Cory, has received 77 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Edwin Arlington Robinson with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info

Robinson Info
Copyright © 2000-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson. All Rights Reserved. Links | Bookstore