Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNETS WRITTEN TO BOUTS-RIMES: 9. THE PLAGUE, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI



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SONNETS WRITTEN TO BOUTS-RIMES: 9. THE PLAGUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Listen, the last stroke of death's noon has struck
Last Line: Who mourneth for the multitude dead here?
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina
Subject(s): Death; Plague; Dead, The


"Listen, the last stroke of death's noon has struck --
The plague is come," a gnashing Madman said,
And laid him down straightway upon his bed.
His writhed hands did at the linen pluck;
Then all is over. With a careless chuck
Among his fellows he is cast. How sped
His spirit matters little: many dead
Make men hard-hearted. -- "Place him on the truck.
Go forth into the burial-ground and find
Room at so much a pitful for so many.
One thing is to be done; one thing is clear:
Keep thou back from the hot unwholesome wind,
That it infect not thee." Say, is there any
Who mourneth for the multitude dead here?





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