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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LONDON'S POET: 2 by ANNIE MATHESON

First Line: OH, WOMAN-COUNTRY WOOED NOT WED, FAIR LAND
Last Line: HE DREW DEATH'S VEIL ASIDE, AND LOOKED BEYOND.

OH, woman-country wooed not wed,' fair land,
Beloved by her to whom his troth held fast,
We will not grudge his presence at the last,
For he was ours: yea, even we who stand
Afar from those who may as friends command
Years full of blissful memories, death being past,
We claim him, though we mourn with eyes downcast,
The sadder that we never touched his hand.
O Italy and England! In one bond
He binds you both by the brave words he said,
With his new country. Well his part was conned
For this world's task: no visionary fond,
But a strong man, true to the quick and dead,
He drew death's veil aside, and looked beyond.



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