Classic and Contemporary Poetry
STILL FALLS THE RAIN; THE RAIDS, 1940. NIGHT AND DAWN, by EDITH SITWELL Recitation by Author Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Still falls the rain - / dark as the world of man, black as our loss Last Line: "still do I love, still shed my innocent light, my blood, for thee." Subject(s): Air Raids; Air Warfare; Crucifixion; Religion; World War Ii; Jesus Christ - Crucifixion; Theology; Second World War | ||||||||
Still falls the Rain -- Dark as the world of man, black as our loss -- Blind as the nineteen hundred and forty nails Upon the Cross. Still falls the Rain With a sound like the pulse of the heart that is changed to the hammer-beat In the Potter's Field, and the sound of the impious feet On the Tomb: Still falls the Rain In the Field of Blood where the small hopes breed and the human brain Nurtures its greed, that worm with the brow of Cain. Still falls the Rain At the feet of the Starved Man hung upon the Cross. Christ that each day, each night, nails there, have mercy on us -- On Dives and on Lazurus: Under the Rain the sore and the gold are as one. Still falls the Rain -- Still falls the Blood from the Starved Man's wounded Side: He bears in His Heart all wounds, -- those of the light that died, The last faint spark In the self-murdered heart, the wounds of the sad uncomprehend- ing dark The wounds of the baited bear -- The blind and weeping bear whom the keepers beat On his helpless flesh . . . the tears of the hunted hare. Still falls the Rain -- Then -- O Ile leape up to my God: who pulles me doune -- See, see where Christ's blood streames in the firmament: It flows from the Brow we nailed upon the tree Deep to the dying, to the thirsting heart That holds the fires of the world, -- dark-smirched with pain As Caesar's laurel crown. Then sounds the voice of One who like the heart of man Was once a child who among beasts has lain -- "Still do I love, still shed my innocent light, my Blood, for thee." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PORT OF EMBARKATION by RANDALL JARRELL GREATER GRANDEUR by ROBINSON JEFFERS FAMILY GROUP by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE IN PICTURES by JAMES MCMICHAEL READING MY POEMS FROM WORLD WAR II by WILLIAM MEREDITH AN OLD WOMAN: 2. HARVEST by EDITH SITWELL |
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