Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 87. DEATH'S SONGSTERS, by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When first that horse, within whose populous womb Last Line: Nor shames her lip the cheek of victory? Alternate Author Name(s): Rossetti, Gabriel Charles Dante Subject(s): Death; Suicide; Dead, The | ||||||||
WHEN first that horse, within whose populous womb The birth was death, o'ershadowed Troy with fate, Her elders, dubious of its Grecian freight, Brought Helen there to sing the songs of home; She whispered, "Friends, I am alone; come, come!" Then, crouched within, Ulysses waxed afraid, And on his comrades' quivering mouths he laid His hands, and held them till the voice was dumb. The same was he who, lashed to his own mast, There where the sea-flowers screen the charnel-caves, Beside the sirens' singing island pass'd, Till sweetness failed along the inveterate waves.... Say, soul,--are songs of Death no heaven to thee, Nor shames her lip the cheek of Victory? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND FOUND' (FOR A PICTURE) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |
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