From Calais pier I saw a brilliant sight, And from the sailor at my side besought The meaning of that fire, which pierced the night With lustre, by the foaming billows caught. "Tis the South Foreland!' I resum'd my gaze With quicker pulse, thus, on the verge of France, To come on England's brightness in advance! There! on the waters! In those far-seen rays I hail'd the symbol of her fame in fight: But, by a change akin to that which brought The lightning under rule, the martial thought Flash'd itself out, transform'd to quiet light; I turn'd to all the good she did and taught, Her shining honour and her moral might. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...POETRY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON IN THE SHADOWS: 2 by DAVID GRAY (1838-1861) MY VERY PARTICULAR FRIEND by MARIA ABDY WINDOW TRIMMER by MARGARET LEE ASHLEY EPITAPH ON LEVI LINCOLN THAXTER; INSCRIBED ON A ROCK ABOVE THE GRAVE by ROBERT BROWNING ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER by ROBERT BROWNING THE MERMAIDEN by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |