Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE SHRINES OF MOSCOW by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR

First Line: ABOVE EACH GATE A BLESSED SAINT
Last Line: THEY ARE THE STARS, AND SHE THE SUN!
Subject(s): KREMLIN, MOSCOW; MOSCOW; RUSSIA; SOVIET UNION; RUSSIANS;

ABOVE each gate a blessed saint
Asks favor of the skies,
And the hosts of the foe do fail and faint
At the gleam of their watchful eyes;
And Pole and Tartar and haughty Gaul
Flee, dismayed, from the Kremlin wall.

Here lie our ancient czars, asleep, --
Ivan and Feodor, --
While loving angels round them keep
Sweet peace forevermore!
Only when Easter bells ring loud,
They sign the cross beneath the shroud.

O, Troitsa's altar is divine, --
St. Sergius! hear our prayers!
And Kieff, Olga's lofty shrine,
The name of "The Holy" bears;
But Moscow blends all rays in one, --
They are the stars, and she the sun!



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