Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TROPHIES OF PEACE; ILLINOIS IN 1840, by HERMAN MELVILLE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TROPHIES OF PEACE; ILLINOIS IN 1840, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Files on files of prairie maize
Last Line: Nor annals fame the field.
Subject(s): Illinois


Files on files of Prairie Maize:
On hosts of spears the morning plays!
Aloft the rustling streamers show:
The floss embrowned is rich below.

When Asia scarfed in silks came on
Against the Greek and Marathon,
Did each plume and pennon dance
Sun-lit thus on helm and lance
Mindless of War's sickle so?

For them, a tasseled dance of death:
For these -- the reapers reap them low.
Reap them low, and stack the plain
With Ceres' trophies, golden grain.

Such monuments, and only such,
O Prairie! termless yield,
Though trooper Mars disdainful flout
Nor Annals fame the field.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net