Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward (Among them Nora and Henry III)

Action is present in the poem's title since giving a speech and addressing an audience is an action that can provoke a fair amount of anxiety in people. Speaking in front of others can be nerve-rattling—especially if the audience is composed of restless young people.

In Lines 2-5, the action motif continues as the speaker describes the youth according to their actions. The young people are "down-keepers" (Line 2), "sun-slappers" (Line 3), "self-soilers" (Line 4), and "harmony-hushers (Line 4). They are busy fomenting aggravation.

The speech itself supplies the youth with an alternative though necessary action—face the day. Even if they're not ready, young people should take steps to prepare for the calmer life of day. Besides the action of giving a speech, there are two other kinds of actions in the poem: the actions the youth already do and the actions the speaker and speech-giver want their young audience to learn.

In the final stanza, the speaker warns against yielding to further tempestuous actions. Their activities shouldn't center on winning battles or racing to the end of a song. Rather, their actions should be less frantic and more poised and considered. In fact, they might not want to be so active, as it may behoove them to settle down and get along.