Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SICK BATTLE-GOD, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In days when men found joy in war Last Line: The battle-god is god no more. Subject(s): Boer War; South African War | ||||||||
I IN days when men found joy in war, A God of Battles sped each mortal jar; The peoples pledged him heart and hand, From Israel's land to isles afar. II His crimson form, with clang and chime, Flashed on each murk and murderous meeting-time, And kings invoked, for rape and raid, His fearsome aid in rune and rhyme. III On bruise and blood-hole, scar and seam, On blade and bolt, he flung his fulgid beam: His haloes rayed the very gore, And corpses wore his glory-gleam. IV Often an early King or Queen, And storied hero onward, caught his sheen; 'Twas glimpsed by Wolfe, by Ney anon, And Nelson on his blue demesne. V But new light spread. That god's gold nimb And blazon have waned dimmer and more dim; Even his flushed form begins to fade, Till but a shade is left of him. VI That modern meditation broke His spell, that penmen's pleadings dealt a stroke, Say some; and some that crimes too dire Did much to mire his crimson cloak. VII Yea, seeds of crescent sympathy Were sown by those more excellent than he, Long known, though long contemned till then - The gods of men in amity. VIII Souls have grown seers, and thought outbrings The mournful many-sidedness of things With foes as friends, enfeebling ires And fury-fires by gaingivings! IX He rarely gladdens champions now; They do and dare, but tensely - pale of brow; And would they fain uplift the arm Of that weak form they know not how. X Yet wars arise, though zest grows cold; Wherefore, at times, as if in ancient mould He looms, bepatched with paint and lath; But never hath he seemed the old! XI Let men rejoice, let men deplore, The lurid Deity of heretofore Succumbs to one of saner nod; The Battle-god is god no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A WIFE IN LONDON by THOMAS HARDY THE SOULS OF THE SLAIN by THOMAS HARDY RANK AND FILE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON AT THE WAR OFFICE, LONDON by THOMAS HARDY SONG OF THE SOLDIERS' WIVES AND SWEETHEARTS by THOMAS HARDY THE COLONEL'S SOLILOQUY by THOMAS HARDY AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM' by THOMAS HARDY |
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