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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AFTER, by ROBERT BROWNING Poet's Biography
First Line: Take the cloak from his face, and at first
Last Line: Cover the face!
Variant Title(s): The Avenger Speaks
Subject(s): Death; Dead, The
First Line: Take the cloak from his face, and at first
Last Line: Cover the face!
Variant Title(s): The Avenger Speaks
Subject(s): Death; Dead, The
TAKE the cloak from his face, and at first
Let the corpse do its worst!
How he lies in his rights of a man!
Death has done all death can.
And, absorbed in the new life he leads,
He recks not, he heeds
Nor his wrong nor my vengeance; both strike
On his senses alike,
And are lost in the solemn and strange
Surprise of the change.
Ha, what avails death to erase
His offence, my disgrace?
I would we were boys as of old
In the field, by the fold:
His outrage, God's patience, man's scorn
Were so easily borne!
I stand here now, he lies in his place:
Cover the face!
Other Poems of Interest...
DOUBLE ELEGY by MICHAEL S. HARPER
A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT
FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT
TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT
CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY
NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND