MY mule refreshed, his bells Jingled once more, the signal to depart, And we set out in the gray light of dawn, Descending rapidly, -- by waterfalls Fast frozen, and among huge blocks of ice That in their long career had stopt midway; At length, unchecked, unbidden, he stood still, And all his bells were muffled. Then my guide, Lowering his voice, addressed me: -- "Through this chasm On, and say nothing, -- for a word, a breath, Stirring the air, may loosen and bring down A winter's snow, -- enough to overwhelm The horse and foot that, night and day, defiled Along this path to conquer at Marengo." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INVERSNAID by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE ONE GRAY HAIR by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR SONNET UPON HISTORIE OF GEORGE CASTRIOT, ALIAS SCANDERBERG by EDMUND SPENSER SONNET: 'EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY' by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH TWELVE SONNETS: 3. THE VALLEY ROSES by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |