Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHAINED CRUSADER, by WILFRED ROWLAND CHILDE First Line: Between the joustings and the wine Last Line: Dear seed-plots of the rose of heaven. Subject(s): Crusades; Oxford University | ||||||||
BETWEEN the joustings and the wine I heard a voice descend: "Ye kneel and hail Me as divine; Therefore My land defend. The infidel has hold upon The cedarn slopes of Lebanon: The faithless rule and keep their stand In the gates of holy land. None of your paladins makes stir To stand and keep My sepulchre, Or bring My cities back to Me. Once wept I for Jerusalem: Now is she tenanted by them, That speak against My mystery." Between the viols and the wine A voice came to my ears: "Ye shall take back My Palestine Through many barriers: Ye shall attain, though many a thorn Be in your bodies driven, Through battle and strong suns and scorn, Unto the Rose of Heaven: Yea, that small seed-plot of My birth Ye shall possess once more, That strange most holy space of earth -- Put by your music and your mirth, And with your swords adore. The infidel has hold upon The cedarn slopes of Lebanon: The faithless rule and keep their stand In all the ports of holy land, And fierce unchristened kings are set Upon the sides of Olivet. Take back, O continent of Mine, Take back for Me My Palestine." Therefore, I saw the spears upon Acre and walled Ajalon: Therefore, I serve the Saracens, Whose hearts are not as Frankish men's, And captive am and slave therefore Unto this heathen emperor. Yet have I toiled to take again The little cities of His pain, To take the little cities striven, Dear seed-plots of the Rose of Heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHRIST CHURCH MEADOWS, OXFORD by DONALD HALL OXFORD, THIRTY YEARS AFTER by JOHN UPDIKE THE SCHOLAR GIPSY by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE SPIRES OF OXFORD by WINIFRED MARY LETTS THE TALENTED MAN by WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED SONNET: ON HAVING DINED AT TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD by JOHN CODRINGTON BAMPFYLDE THE BALLAD OF MY FRIEND by J. D. BEAZLEY LETTER TO B.W. PROCTOR, ESQ., FROM OXFORD; MAY, 1825 by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES A SONG OF THE LITTLE CITY by WILFRED ROWLAND CHILDE DREAM - COTSWOLD by WILFRED ROWLAND CHILDE THE ABIDING BURG (DEDICATION: TO THE SMALL TOWNS OF CHRISTENDOM) by WILFRED ROWLAND CHILDE |
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