Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOUNTAIN FIRES, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOUNTAIN FIRES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Light the hills! Till heaven is glowing
Last Line: "be her mighty unforgot!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Variant Title(s): The Beltane Fires
Subject(s): Fire; Snowdon (mountain), Wales; Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen


LIGHT the hills! till heaven is glowing
As with some red meteor's rays!
Winds of night, though rudely blowing,
Shall but fan the beacon-blaze.
Light the hills! till flames are streaming
From Yr Wyddfa's sovereign steep,
To the waves round Mona gleaming,
Where the Roman tracked the deep!

Be the mountain watch-fires heightened,
Pile them to the stormy sky!
Till each torrent wave is brightened,
Kindling as it rushes by.
Now each rock, the mist's high dwelling,
Towers in reddening light sublime;
Heap the flames! around them telling
Tales of Cambria's elder time.

Thus our sires, the fearless-hearted,
Many a solemn vigil kept,
When, in ages long departed,
O'er the noble dead they wept.
In the winds we hear their voices --
"Sons! though yours a brighter lot,
When the mountain-land rejoices,
Be her mighty unforgot!"





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