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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COUP DE GRACE, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: So malice sharp'd his pen, and nibbled it
Last Line: That pierced thee, silent, in th'unanswering grave!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
First Line: So malice sharp'd his pen, and nibbled it
Last Line: That pierced thee, silent, in th'unanswering grave!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
So Malice sharp'd his pen, and nibbled it,
And leered 'neath faltering eyelids at the flame
Of his calm candle till a notion came,
Coarse, acrid, with a distant hint of wit.
Once more he simmered, and once more he writ,
Till not a dash was dull, a comma lame;
Then exquisitely failed to sign his name,
Leaving the world to trace a slug by its spit.
Such was the barb, O Keats, (vain tongues would have),
Troubled in its calm flight thy lovely art;
Cankered thy youth, thy faith; abashed the brave,
Untarnishable sweetness of thy heart:
How should these dullards dream they winged the dart
That pierced thee, silent, in th'unanswering grave!
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ALONE (2) by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
AN EPITAPH by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
ARABIA by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
BUNCHES OF GRAPES by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
ECHO by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
ENGLAND (2) by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
FARE WELL by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
FIVE EYES by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
JOHN MOULDY by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE
MOTLEY by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE