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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THROUGH AGONY: 1 by CLAUDE MCKAY

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: ALL NIGHT, THROUGH THE ETERNITY OF NIGHT,
Last Line: Oh, you shall never triumph any more!
Subject(s): LOVE - COMPLAINTS; GRIEF; SORROW; SADNESS;

All night, through the eternity of night,
Pain was my portion though I could not feel.
Deep in my humbled heart you ground your heel,
Till I was reft of even my inner light,
Till reason from my mind had taken flight,
And all my world went whirling in a reel.
And all my swarthy strength turned cold like steel,
A passive mass beneath your puny might.
Last night I gave you triumph over me,
So I should be myself as once before,
I marveled at your shallow mystery,
And haunted hungrily your temple door.
I gave you sum and substance to be free,
Oh, you shall never triumph any more!



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