URANIA: A RHYMED LESSON. PRONOUNCED BEFORE THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, OCTOBER 14, 1846.

Boston: William D. Ticknor & Company Book. Fair. Soft cover. 2nd Edition. 1846, 31pp. Wrps. One and a half inch triangular open tear at the top of the front cover, hinges splitting, covers badly worn and discolored, contents G. In protective report covers. BAL 8745. Apparently, in the mid nineteenth century, it was customary for a well known orator, or author of the day, to give an after-dinner speech, or recite an after-dinner poem. This poem is referred to as an after-dinner poem, one of many that Holmes delivered over the years. I knew that Urania was one of the muses in Greek mythology, associated with astronomy. But upon further research, I learned that Urania is also associated with the heavens in general, and the Holy Spirit; not the Holy Spirit of Roman Catholicism, but the Holy Spirit referring to the divine aspect of prophecy and wisdom, and the divine force, quality, and influence of the Most High God, over the universe or over his creatures. Since this poem seems to be about the accumulated wisdom of mankind, in general, perhaps that was Holmes's reason for choosing the title. But if someone had asked him about the meaning of the poem, or the title, maybe he would have given the same reply that Eliot did when asked about the meaning of one of his poems - "Whatever it means to you.".