Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FREEDOM, by ALFRED TENNYSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: O thou so fair in summers gone Last Line: Brass mouths and iron lungs! Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron Subject(s): Freedom; Liberty | ||||||||
I O THOU so fair in summers gone, While yet thy fresh and virgin soul Inform'd the pillar'd Parthenon, The glittering Capitol; II So fair in southern sunshine bathed, But scarce of such majestic mien As here with forehead vapor-swathed In meadows ever green; III For thou -- when Athens reign'd and Rome, Thy glorious eyes were dimm'd with pain To mark in many a freeman's home The slave, the scourge, the chain; IV O follower of the Vision, still In motion to the distant gleam Howe'er blind force and brainless will May jar thy golden dream V Of Knowledge fusing class with class, Of civic Hate no more to be, Of Love to leaven all the mass, Till every soul be free; VI Who yet, like Nature, wouldst not mar By changes all too fierce and fast This order of her Human Star, This heritage of the past; VII O scorner of the party cry That wanders from the public good, Thou -- when the nations rear on high Their idol smear'd with blood, VIII And when they roll their idol down -- Of saner worship sanely proud; Thou loather of the lawless crown As of the lawless crowd; IX How long thine ever-growing mind Hath still'd the blast and strown the wave, Tho' some of late would raise a wind To sing thee to thy grave, X Men loud against all forms of power -- Unfurnish'd brows, tempestuous tongues, Expecting all things in an hour -- Brass mouths and iron lungs! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS AFTER TENNYSON by AMBROSE BIERCE QUARTET IN F MAJOR by WILLIAM MEREDITH CROSS THAT LINE by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE EMANCIPATION by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER A CHARACTER by ALFRED TENNYSON |
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