FAME'S favourite minion! The theme of her story; How quail'd is thy pinion, How sullied its glory: Where blood flow'd like water, Exulting it bore thee! Destruction and slaughter Behind and before thee. Where glory was blushing, Thy flight was the fleetest; Where death's sleep was hushing, Thy slumber was sweetest. When broad-swords were clashing Thy cry was the loudest; When deep they were gashing, Thy plume was the proudest. But, triumph is over: No longer victorious, No more shalt thou hover, Destructively glorious! Far from the battle's shock, Fate hath fast bound thee; Chain'd to the rugged rock, Waves warring round thee. Instead of the trumpet's sound, Sea-birds are shrieking: Hoarse on thy rampart's bound, Billows are breaking. The standards which led thee Are trampled and torn now; The flatteries which fed thee, Are turn'd into scorn now. For ensigns unfurling, Like sunbeams in brightness; Are crested waves curling, Like snow-wreaths in whiteness. No sycophants mock thee With dreams of dominion; But rude tempests rock thee, And ruffle thy pinion. Thy last flight is taken, Hope leaves thee forever; And victory shall waken Thy proud spirit never! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DESIRE OF NATIONS by EDWIN MARKHAM THE CHRONICLE; A BALLAD by ABRAHAM COWLEY DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A VISION UPON [THIS CONCEIT] OF THE FAERIE QUEENE (1) by WALTER RALEIGH THE EMPEROR OF ICE-CREAM by WALLACE STEVENS GOD SAVE THE NATION! by THEODORE TILTON MY LITTLE CAPE COD MAIDEN by KATHERINE FINNIGAN ANDERSON ENGLISH ENCOURAGEMENT OF ART (FIRST READING) by WILLIAM BLAKE |