What Cheer: A Poem
by Job Durfee
A Poetic Tribute to Early America and the Spirit of Human Brotherhood
What Cheer: A Poem by Job Durfee is an ambitious nineteenth-century poetic work that blends history, legend, patriotism, and moral reflection. Drawing inspiration from the early colonial history of Rhode Island and the famous greeting traditionally associated with Native Americans and settlers, Durfee creates a poem that celebrates cooperation, courage, and the ideals that shaped the American experience.
Published during a period when American writers sought to develop a distinct national literature, the poem reflects a desire to connect the nation's identity with its historical origins. Rather than focusing solely on political events, Durfee explores broader themes of human fellowship, cultural encounter, and the possibilities of a society founded upon mutual respect and freedom.
The result is a work that combines historical imagination with poetic aspiration, presenting the past as a source of moral and civic inspiration.
The Meaning Behind "What Cheer"
The phrase "What Cheer" occupies a special place in Rhode Island tradition. It is often associated with the friendly greeting exchanged between Native inhabitants and early English settlers, particularly those connected with the colony founded by Roger Williams. Over time, the expression came to symbolize goodwill, hospitality, and peaceful coexistence.
Durfee adopts this phrase as the central symbol of his poem, transforming it into an emblem of larger ideals:
- Friendship across cultural boundaries.
- Religious and civic tolerance.
- Hope for social harmony.
- Respect for human dignity.
These values provide the moral foundation upon which much of the poem is built.
History as Poetic Inspiration
Rather than presenting a strict historical account, Durfee uses history as a framework for poetic exploration. Colonial settlements, interactions between different communities, and the development of American society become subjects for reflection and imaginative interpretation.
The poem seeks to capture not only events but also the ideals associated with them. Through descriptive passages and elevated language, Durfee presents the American past as a story of aspiration, perseverance, and moral possibility.
This approach reflects the Romantic literary influence that shaped much nineteenth-century poetry.
The Style of Job Durfee
Job Durfee was known as a jurist, public figure, and writer deeply interested in history and civic life. His poetry often combines intellectual seriousness with patriotic feeling.
In What Cheer, readers encounter characteristics common to many American poems of the era:
Elevated language that seeks to inspire as well as inform.
Historical references that connect contemporary readers with the past.
Moral reflection emphasizing virtue and public responsibility.
Idealistic themes centered on liberty, justice, and human progress.
The poem's tone is earnest and hopeful, reflecting confidence in the value of the principles it celebrates.
Themes That Shape the Work
Several interconnected ideas run throughout the poem. The importance of tolerance and understanding stands at the forefront, particularly in relation to the encounters between different peoples and cultures.
The work also emphasizes the role of memory in shaping civic identity. By recalling the past, Durfee encourages readers to preserve the values that he believed contributed to the nation's development.
Another recurring theme is the belief that communities flourish when guided by cooperation rather than conflict, a message embodied in the symbolic greeting from which the poem takes its title.
Why the Poem Remains Significant
What Cheer offers modern readers insight into how nineteenth-century Americans understood their history and national identity. The poem reflects an era when literature was often viewed as a means of strengthening civic values and preserving collective memory.
It also contributes to the cultural history of Rhode Island, preserving traditions and legends that continue to hold regional significance.
For historians and literary scholars, the work provides a valuable example of how poetry was used to interpret and celebrate the American past.
Final Thoughts
What Cheer: A Poem by Job Durfee is a thoughtful and patriotic work that transforms a historic phrase into a symbol of tolerance, friendship, and shared humanity. Through historical imagination and poetic reflection, Durfee celebrates ideals that he believed lay at the heart of the American experience.
For readers interested in American poetry, regional history, civic ideals, and nineteenth-century literature, this poem remains an engaging expression of hope, memory, and cultural identity.
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About the Author
Job Durfee was an American lawyer, judge, statesman, poet, and historian whose writings reflected his deep appreciation for the history, culture, and natural beauty of New England. Explore Job Durfee books to discover the author's life, literary career, and access notable works.