Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PASSAGE OF THE POLES BY NIGHT NEAR CRACOW, by AUGUST PLATEN Poet's Biography First Line: The chilly breezes blow Last Line: On to free ocean's bed. Alternate Author Name(s): Maximilian, Karl August Georg; Platten Hallermund, Graf Von Subject(s): Cracow, Poland | ||||||||
THE chilly breezes blow, In sadness do we go, Led on by Destiny. O'ershadowed is each star, While Europe, from afar, Looks on the tragedy. Oft turning back our head, Upon the bridge we tread That quits our native land. By torchlight's sombre glow, They who our sorrows know Salute us on the strand. Sold, vanquished, and betrayed, Our noblest actions fade Like vain and empty dreams, No trace behind remains. Farewell, beloved plains, Ye valleys, hills, and streams! Farewell! in every land Will a life-wearied band Find in the grave a home. It is not death we flee, No, 't is but to be free, We take our staff and roam. From wife and child, from all We part, our country's fall We may not hinder more, For, lo! the knout of Russia And scourging steel of Prussia Are thirsting for our gore. A tearless soul abhorred Was given us as lord, A stony heart unbent; Born of a murderous race, His forehead bears the trace That brandeth his descent. Let glory's crown, O fame, Illume our humble name! Pour balm on every scar! Then smart the wounds of none, For Poland's humblest son Is greater than the Czar. Alone inherit we Our struggle's memory That leagued each Polish band, Of war the pain and toil, A handful of the soil Snatched from our Fatherland. O, happy they who drained The cup of death, and gained The laurels of the brave! And ye, Volhynia's sons, From agony's death-groans Freed by the cold damp grave! They urge the reeking steed, Enclosed by foes, and speed The Vistula to gain, The stranger's shore their goal; Then swelled their noble soul, Oppressed by woe and pain. It wrung their hearts to roam, Ne'er more to see that home Of every wish the meed; Then rushed the good and brave Headlong into the wave With weapon and with steed. O thou, their country's flood, Who long hast swelled with blood, Receive the valiant dead! Soon wilt thou reach the sea, O, bear the corpses free On to free Ocean's bed. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CRACOW, NOW! by LOUIS DANIEL BRODSKY VALEDICTION FORBIDDING DESPAIR by LOUIS DANIEL BRODSKY VALEDICTION FORBIDDING DESPAIR, CRACOW GHETTO, 1943 by LOUIS DANIEL BRODSKY FORBIDDEN MASS, KRAKOW by LEONARD KRESS KAWIARNIA, KRAKOW by LEONARD KRESS JOURNEY TO CRACOW by PAUL MULDOON THE GRAVE OF ALARIC by AUGUST PLATEN THE PILGRIM OF ST. JUST'S by AUGUST PLATEN HUFFMAN'S PHOTOGRAPH OF THE GRAVES OF THE UNKNOWN AT LITTLE BIGHORN by KAREN SWENSON |
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