Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, POCAHONTAS, by GEORGE POPE MORRIS



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POCAHONTAS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Upon the barren sand
Last Line: And breathes a prayer for him.
Alternate Author Name(s): Morris, George Perkins
Subject(s): Native Americans; Pocahontas (1595-1617); Indians Of America; American Indians; Indians Of South America


UPON the barren sand
A single captive stood;
Around him came, with bow and brand,
The red men of the wood.
Like him of old, his doom he hears,
Rock-bound on ocean's brim --
The chieftain's daughter knelt in tears,
And breathed a prayer for him.

Above his head in air
The savage war-club swung:
The frantic girl, in wild despair,
Her arms about him flung.
Then shook the warriors of the shade,
Like leaves on aspen limb,
Subdued by that heroic maid
Who breathed a prayer for him!

"Unbind him!" gasped the chief:
"It is your king's decree!"
He kiss'd away the tears of grief,
And set the captive free!
'T is ever thus, when in life's storm
Hope's star to man grows dim,
An angel kneels, in woman's form,
And breathes a prayer for him.





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