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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BATTLE ARDOUR, by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL Poem Explanation Poet's Biography
First Line: Unto what heaven wends this wild ecstasy
Last Line: His foemen are his brothers in the skies.
Alternate Author Name(s): A. E.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; War; Dead, The
First Line: Unto what heaven wends this wild ecstasy
Last Line: His foemen are his brothers in the skies.
Alternate Author Name(s): A. E.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; War; Dead, The
UNTO what heaven wends this wild ecstasy?
Is the fired spirit light upon its wings,
Self being outcast, as the diver flings
His garment so that every limb be free?
Is it an instant of eternity
Attained because no earthly terror clings?
Not now it battles for the rights of kings.
This ecstasy is all its own; to be
Quit of itself, mounted upon the power
That, like Leviathan, breaks from the deep
Primeval and all conquering. He dies!
Yet has he conquered in that very hour.
He and his foeman the same tryst do keep.
His foemen are his brothers in the skies.
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