Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN AURORA BOREALIS, by GEORGE CROLY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN AURORA BOREALIS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Last night I could not rest
Last Line: And heaven was all on fire.
Subject(s): Aurora Borealis; Northern Lights


-- LAST night I could not rest: the chamber's heat,
Or some wild thoughts -- the folly of the day
Banish'd my sleep: So, in the garden air,
I gazed upon the comet, that then shone
In midnight glory, dimming all the stars.
At once a crimson blaze, that made it pale,
Flooded the north. I turn'd, and saw in heaven
Two mighty armies! From the zenith star,
Down to the earth, legions in line and orb,
Squadron and square, like earthly marshalry.
Anon, as if a sudden trumpet spoke,
Banners of gold and purple were flung out;
Fire-crested leaders swept along the lines;
And both the gorgeous depths, like meeting seas,
Roll'd to wild battle. Then, they breathed awhile,
Leaving the space between a sheet of gore,
Stew'd with torn standards, corpses, adn crash'd spears:
But soon upon the horizon's belt uprose,
Moon-like, or richer, -- like the rising morn,
A bulwark'd city.
-- Rome?
-- Both armies joined,
And like a deluge, rush'd against the walls
One chieftain led both armies to the storm,
Till the proud capitol in embers fell,
And heaven was all on fire.





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