From the island's sheltered harbor To the river's broadening stream Comes a fleet of painted galleys, Like the pageant of a dream. In the first sits Stanka-Rahzin, With his arm around his bride; Flushed with vodka and with pleasure, He surveys his crew with pride. Hark! what mean their angry murmurs? "He forsakes us for a kiss! All his manhood hath he bartered For a dream of sensuous bliss!" As the harsh reproaches reach him, He looks sternly at his bride, Though his strong arm still enfolds her, Though he draws her to his side; And his dark brows meet in anger, Like a tempest-laden cloud; Fierce and bloodshot are his glances, As he answers thus the crowd: -- "She shall go, then! I'm no woman! If you think so, take my head!" And his voice, like thunder rolling, Over banks and billows sped. Trembling, breathless, and in silence Sits the princess, deadly pale, Till her drunken Cossack lover Drags her, helpless, to the rail. "Volga," cried he, "dearest mother! Volga, speeding thus away, Hast thou e'er received a present Like the one I give to-day? "She must go; I'll have no discords With my Cossacks, bold and free; Volga, Volga, dearest mother, Take the beauty! She's for thee!" "Well, you devils, why so mournful? Dance, you fools, and fill the bowl! Let us shout a song of freedom In remembrance of her soul!" To the island's sheltered harbor, From the river's broadening stream, Came again the painted galleys, Like the pageant of a dream. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SUMMER'S GARDEN by ROBERT FROST WHEN THE SPEED COMES by ROBERT FROST 1914: 5. THE SOLDIER by RUPERT BROOKE ARIZONA POEMS: 4. THE WINDMILLS by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER EPIGRAM: TO FOOL, OR KNAVE by BEN JONSON A BALLAD OF THE FRENCH FLEET; OCTOBER, 1746 by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SONG OF SOLOMON: AWAKE by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE MODERN JUDAS by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE VISTAS OF LABOR: 4. FACTORY CHILDREN by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |