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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


OLD NORWAY; A MOUNTAIN WAR-SONG by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS

Poet Analysis

First Line: ARISE! OLD NORWAY SENDS THE WORD
Last Line: GIVE BURIAL TO HIS DEAD!
Subject(s): NORWAY; WAR;

ARISE! Old Norway sends the word
Of battle on the blast;
Her voice the forest pines hath stirred,
As if a storm went past;
Her thousand hills the call have heard,
And forth their fire-flags cast.

Arm, arm, free hunters! for the chase,
The kingly chase of foes!
'Tis not the bear or wild wolf's race
Whose trampling shakes the snows:
Arm, arm! 'tis on a nobler trace
The northern spearman goes.

Our hills have dark and strong defiles,
With many an icy bed;
Heap there the rocks for funeral piles
Above the invader's head!
Or let the seas, that guard our isles
Give burial to his dead!



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