Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNETS FROM 'AMERICA AND ENGLAND IN DANGER OF WAR: 4, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNETS FROM 'AMERICA AND ENGLAND IN DANGER OF WAR: 4, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Then the west answered: 'is the sword's keen edge
Last Line: About the hills, and flashed beneath the sea.'
Subject(s): England; Patriotism; English


THEN the West answered: 'Is the sword's keen edge
Like to the mind for sharpness? Doth the flame
Devour like thought? Many with chariots came,
Squadron and phalanx, legion, square, and wedge;
They mounted up; they wound from ledge to ledge
Of battle-glory dark with battle-shame;
But God hath hurled them from the heights of fame
Who from the soul took no eternal pledge.

Because above her people and her throne
She hath erected reason's sovereignty;
Because wherever human speech is known
The touch of English breath doth make thought free;
Therefore forever is her glory blown
About the hills, and flashed beneath the sea.'





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net