ONWARD they came, a dark continuous cloud Of congregated myriads numberless, The rushing of whose wings was as the sound Of a broad river, headlong in its course Plunged from a mountain summit; or the roar Of a wild ocean in the autumn storm, Shattering its billows on a shore of rocks. Onward they came, the winds impell'd them on, Their work was done, their path of ruin past, Their graves were ready in the wilderness. "Behold the mighty army!" Moath cried, "Blindly they move, impell'd By the blind element. And yonder birds, our welcome visitants, Lo! where they soar above the embodied host, Pursue their way, and hang upon their rear, And thin their spreading flanks, Rejoicing o'er their banquet! Deemest thou The scent of water on some Syrian mosque Placed with priest-mummery, and the jargon-rites Which fool the multitude, hath led them here From far Khorassan? Allah, who decreed Yon tribe the plague and punishment of man, These also hath he doom'd to meet their way: Both passive instruments Of his all-acting will, Sole mover he, and only spring of all." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WOODLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE LAMENT OF THE FLOWERS by JONES VERY THE ROYAL CROWN by ISRAEL ABRAHAMS INSTRUCTIONS, SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN IN PARIS, FOR THE MOB IN ENGLAND by MARY (CUMBERLAND) ALCOCK MYRRHA by VITTORIO AMEDEO ALFIERI PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 13. AL-BARI by EDWIN ARNOLD LYNCHED NEGRO by MAXWELL BODENHEIM |