I AM one of some half thousand from the millions of a reign Departed with the years before the flood A reign of Anarchy and Grandeur, Intellect and Crime, Which witnessed all of Ill or Good The lifewhile of a world can show-phenomena such as Time Shall never, never see again! Then spread far forth, like billowy fire, the feelings that of old Had smouldered in the bosoms of the Few; Immortal Freedom then was born, and dwelt with mortal men; And France, the Thundress, rose and threw Her giant shadow o'er the quaking earth! Since then Hath half a stormy century rolled! You, Germans, you are dead in soul! Your luxury is Repose; We hated that! The price of Liberty We knew to be our hearts' best blood, and that we freely gave; We poured it forth in oceans, we! Even till we saw the Night again close o'er us like a grave, Where first our sun of glory rose! We have learned all terrible truths that Revolution came to teach We have known all marvellous changes Time could show We have seen the Phoenix of a world whose ashes on the winds Were scattered long and long ago! Therefore, pale Youth of Germany, we think not with your minds, Nor can you understand our speech! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MARTHA WASHINGTON by SIDNEY LANIER A CHRISTMAS HYMN (OLD STYLE: 1837) by ALFRED DOMETT THE INDIAN WEED by RALPH ERSKINE THE MARTYRS OF THE MAINE by RUPERT HUGHES ANNABEL LEE by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE OLD HOKUM BUNCOMBE by ROBERT EMMET SHERWOOD VERSES FOR CHILDREN: MAPLE TREE by ZEDA K. AILES |