Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AURORA-BOREALIS; COMMEMORATIVE OF DISSOLUTION OF ARMIES,1865 by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHAT POWER DISBANDS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Last Line: MIDNIGHT AND MORN.
Subject(s): AMERICAN CIVIL WAR; ARMY - UNITED STATES; U.S. - HISTORY;

What power disbands the Northern Lights
After their steely play?
The watcher feels a creeping awe
Of Nature's sway,
As when appearing,
He marked their flashed uprearing
In the cold gloom --
Retreatings and advancings,
(Like dallyings of doom),
Transitions and enhancings,
And bloody ray.

The phantom-host has failed quite,
Splendor and Terror gone --
Portent or promise -- and gives way
To pale, meek Dawn;
The coming, going,
Alike in wonder showing --
Alike the God,
Decreeing and commanding
The million blades that glowed,
The muster and disbanding --
Midnight and Morn.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net