Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT A GRAVE, by VICTOR GUSTAVE PLARR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT A GRAVE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: For never yet, with ritual pomp and splendour
Last Line: Then render all the praise to her.
Subject(s): Death; Mourning; Praise; Dead, The; Bereavement


For never yet, with ritual pomp and splendour,
In the long heretofore,
A heart more loyal, warm and true and tender
Has England's turf closed o'er.

Though she be gone she could not die,
Had I the gift, had I the choice,
To breathe her soul in melody
And for her heart to find a voice,

O, then my song would merit praise,
For love to music would be set,
And men would feel in thrilling lays
Her own true heart was beating yet.

No tongue have I for such a song,
Since bitter is the cankered heart,
Which, grieved too deep for tears by wrong,
Can but return the world its smart.

Prometheus stole his fire from Heaven,
And suffered, as the sages tell;
To me perchance it has been given
To gain some light from earth and hell.

Howe'er that be, through pain and fire
My bitter lot has been to go,
And so to learn that scorn and ire,
With which you say I overflow.

But if by scourging wrong I should
By blood-writ lays the pulses stir,
And move my kind to higher good,
Then render all the praise to her.





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