Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BLOOD-STAINED CROSS, by MARY CAROLYN DAVIES Poet's Biography First Line: A black cross and a bloody Last Line: And youth. War slew them utterly. Alternate Author Name(s): Davis, Leland, Mrs.; Pawtuxie Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; Dead, The | ||||||||
A black cross and a bloody With a small Christ on a tree A black cross and a bloody From a dead man's rosary, To count no Ave Marys To say no prayers by rote A black cross and a bloody I wear upon my throat; A black cross and a bloody I wear upon a chain To keep in this my body Still, still, his body's pain; A black cross and a bloody To let me not again Sleep satisfied or calm until A murderer be slain. Blackcrusted blood makes holy The black cross at my throat. And to the Christ upon it I say no prayers by rote; Kind prayers I have forgotten, The little prayers of peace -- Until a death be compassed I have no time for these. The young dead man had stiffened His fingers held from harm In wooden clasp the cross that now Upon my throat is warm About him fell my kinsmen; The foe they could not stem; And since I have no token I keep this cross for them. Until his death be compassed Who slew my kin, I keep The little cross upon me To tell me, in my sleep, Even in dreams to strengthen My arm to join my blow With others to bring death to him Who laid my kinsman low. I wear the black cross that has been In a dead man's hands. I dedicate My life, my power, my strength, my hate To this: For what his deeds have been To slay the one who slew my kin. Beauty and joy are kin to me And youth. War slew them utterly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...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 A CASUALTY LIST by MARY CAROLYN DAVIES |
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