Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CHILD OF WAR by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: HER IVORY FACE, QUIVERING BUT TREMBLING NOT
Subject(s): SOLDIERS;

Her ivory face, quivering but trembling not,


Upheld against a sky of angry storm;


She stands upon her savage chariot,
Sing Bethlehem ! Sing Bethlehem!
Her ivory face, quivering but trembling not,
Fronting the field of Death, a silent form.
You daughters of Jerusalem!
Upheld against a sky of angry storm;
The eagles' daughter, this day she forgot
Keep sorrow for Gethsemani,
She stands upon her savage chariot,
Pity and peace for the first time, and went
And mourning for Mount Calvary!
Fronting the field of Death, a silent form.
To watch the waves of war break, and be spent.

The eagle's daughter, this day she forgot


Pity and peace for the first time, and went

Why are your lids and lashes wet?
To watch the waves of war break, and be spent.
Homeward, with shadows passing on her face,
Here is no darkling Olivet.

Strange lights with strange tears battling in her eyes;
Sing Bethlehem ! Sing Bethlehem!

She goes the triumph way of her old race,
You daughters of Jerusalem!
Homeward, with shadows passing on her face,
Watching the eagles gather in the skies.

Strange lights with strange tears battling in her eyes;
Tasted hath she this day death's busy place:

She goes the triumph way of her old race,
And in her heart called up to equal fight,
How should we sing of Bethlehem,
Watching the eagles gather in the skies.
Daughter of eagles, loathing and delight.
We, daughters of Jerusalem?
Tasted hath she this day death's busy place:

We are the people of the Jews:
And in her heart called up to equal fight,

Our balms would soothe Him not, but bruise.
Daughter of eagles, loathing and delight.
Sing Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!


You daughters of Jerusalem!


Keep sorrow for Gethsemani,
Ah, Calvary! ah, Calvary!
And mourning for Mount Calvary!
We wretched women cry to thee:

We, daughters of Jerusalem;

And enemies of Bethlehem.
Why are your lids and lashes wet?

Here is no darkling Olivet.

Sing Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
With faces cast upon the dust,
You daughters of Jerusalem!
We weep those things, which do we must:

Our tears embitter Calvary,

And water thee, Gethsemani!
How should we sing of Bethlehem,

We, daughters of Jerusalem?

We are the people of the Jews:
Nay, Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
Our balms would soothe Him not, but bruise.
Poor daughters of Jerusalem!

You know not, what you do: but He

Will pardon you on Calvary.
Ah, Calvary! ah, Calvary!

We wretched women cry to thee:

We, daughters of Jerusalem;
And enemies of Bethlehem.


With faces cast upon the dust,
We weep those things, which do we must:
Our tears embitter Calvary,
And water thee, Gethsemani!


Nay, Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
Poor daughters of Jerusalem!
You know not, what you do: but He
Will pardon you on Calvary.






Home: PoetryExplorer.net