Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A DEAD ENEMY by ALFRED TENNYSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: I CAME IN HASTE WITH CURSING BREATH
Last Line: BY HEAVEN! I CANNOT HATE THEE NOW!
Subject(s): HATE;
I CAME in haste with cursing breath,
And heart of hardest steel;
But when I saw thee cold in death,
I felt as man should feel.

For when I look upon that face,
That cold, unheeding, frigid brow,
Where neither rage nor fear has place,
By Heaven! I cannot hate thee now!





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