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THE TRAITOR, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sea-bird of the battle surf
Last Line: Where he sleeps in endless gloom.
Subject(s): Blackmore, Richard Doddridge (1825-1900); Fictional Characters


Sea-bird of the battle surf,
Lorna is dead.
Black on Colla's castled hill
Ruin is spread.
Weep for Lorna who rode forth
With his king against the North.

Lorna came again at morn,
Riding from war.
Messenger of battle won,
Tidings he bore: --
"Quenchless was the charge he made,
Low the insurgent walls were laid."

And while revelry was rife
Through Colla's halls,
Then the lonely warder saw,
Pacing the walls,
Eastward in the morning's greys,
Serried spears in the sunrise blaze.

By an altar in a vault --
Night dripping dew --
Lorna's muffled cry arose;
Bat-like it flew: --
"Sacrifice for victory!
Priest and victim find in me!"

Sea-bird of the battle surf,
Lorna is dead.
Black on Colla's castled hill
Ruin is spread.
Royal seal upon the tomb
Where he sleeps in endless gloom.





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