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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
QUI VIVE?, by GRACE ELLERY CHANNING-STETSON First Line: Qui vive? Who passes by up there? Last Line: The flags of france. Subject(s): Flags - France; World War I - France | |||
Qui vive? Who passes by up there? Who moveswhat stirs in the startled air? What whispers, thrills, exults up there? Qui vive? "The Flags of France." What wind on a windless night is this, That breathes as light as a lover's kiss, That blows through the night with bugle notes, That streams like a pennant from a lance, That rustles, that floats? "The Flags of France." What richly moves, what lightly stirs, Like a noble lady in a dance, When all men's eyes are in love with hers And needs must follow? "The Flags of France." What calls to the heartand the heart has heard, Speaks, and the soul has obeyed the word, Summons, and all the years advance, And the world goes forward with Francewith France? Who called? "The Flags of France." What fliesa glory, through the night, While the legions streama line of light, And men fall to the left and fall to the right, But they fall not? "The Flags of France." Qui vive? Who comes? What approaches there? What soundless tumult, what breath in the air Takes the breath in the throat, the blood from the heart? In a flame of dark, to the unheard beat Of an unseen drum and fleshless feet, Without glint of barrel or bayonets' glance, They approachthey come. Who comes? (Hush! Hark!) "Qui vive?" "The Flags of France." Uncover the head and kneelkneel down, A monarch passes, without a crown, Let the proud tears fall but the heart beat high: The Greatest of All is passing by, On its endless march in the endless Plan: "Qui vive?" "The Spirit of Man." "O Spirit of Man, pass on! Advance!" And they who lead, who hold the van? Kneel down! The Flags of France. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...O GLORIOUS FRANCE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS FROM FRANCE by ISAAC ROSENBERG NAPOLEON'S TOMB by DANA BURNET INFANTRY by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS FLOWER BEDS IN THE TUILERIES by GRACE ELLERY CHANNING-STETSON PLACE DE LA CONCORDE by FLORENCE EARLE COATES VIVE LA FRANCE! by CHARLOTTE HOLMES CRAWFORD A SONG OF ARNO by GRACE ELLERY CHANNING-STETSON |
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