Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT ST. HELENA, by JOHN BANISTER TABB


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT ST. HELENA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The night encamps around thee. From afar
Last Line: Of ocean kindled at the dream of pride?
Alternate Author Name(s): Father Tabb
Subject(s): Napoleon I (1769-1821)


The night encamps around thee. From afar
The bannered hosts of outer darkness throng,
And crested billows shout their battle song
To greet the dreadful summoner of war.
The throbbing bursts of molten thunder jar
The firmament; and lo! the mountains strong
Are livid with the lightning's leprous tongue,
As nations smit of some malignant star!
What spirit wroth, from Erebos uptorn,
Is launched upon the laboring tempest wide?
Is it the captive conqueror's, forlorn,
His late avenging destiny defied? --
Who laughed? -- or was it but the seething scorn
Of ocean kindled at the dream of pride?





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