Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AURORA-BOREALIS; COMMEMORATIVE OF DISSOLUTION OF ARMIES,1865, by HERMAN MELVILLE


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AURORA-BOREALIS; COMMEMORATIVE OF DISSOLUTION OF ARMIES,1865, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What power disbands the northern lights
Last Line: Midnight and morn.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Army - United States; U.s. - History


What power disbands the Northern Lights
After their steely play?
The watcher feels a creeping awe
Of Nature's sway,
As when appearing,
He marked their flashed uprearing
In the cold gloom --
Retreatings and advancings,
(Like dallyings of doom),
Transitions and enhancings,
And bloody ray.

The phantom-host has failed quite,
Splendor and Terror gone --
Portent or promise -- and gives way
To pale, meek Dawn;
The coming, going,
Alike in wonder showing --
Alike the God,
Decreeing and commanding
The million blades that glowed,
The muster and disbanding --
Midnight and Morn.





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