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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CALL TO ACTION, by CALLINUS Poet's Biography First Line: How long, young men, unsoldiered, disregarding Last Line: Work for many hands he does alone. Subject(s): War | |||
HOW long, young men, unsoldiered, disregarding, laze you, scorned by neighbours round about? Slack to the bone, on peace resolved, supinely careless in a land where all is war? * * * * * * hurl in death your javelins once again. For great and glorious is a man defending home and children and his wedded wife against the enemy. At Fate's own moment snaps his thread of life. So forward all with spear in poise, crouching to shields that cover hearts courageous, soon as battle's joined. There's no escaping death: that destination men must face -- ev'n of immortal seed. Many from war and ringing lance have sheltered, homeward fled: at home death finds them out. But these the people love not, none regrets them: brave men fallen great and small lament. The whole land mourns a man of heart heroic dead: in life a demigod he seems. His strength is as a tower to all beholders -- work for many hands he does alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I AM YOUR WAITER TONIGHT AND MY NAME IS DIMITRI by ROBERT HASS MITRAILLIATRICE by ERNEST HEMINGWAY RIPARTO D'ASSALTO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY WAR VOYEURS by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SO MANY BLOOD-LAKES by ROBINSON JEFFERS GHOSTS OF A LUNATIC ASYLUM by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET |
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