Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DRAFT RIOT, by CHARLES DE KAY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DRAFT RIOT, by                    
First Line: Is it the wind, the many-tongued, the weird
Last Line: And burns the town.
Subject(s): American Civil War; New York Draft Riots (1863); United States - History


(IN THE UNIVERSITY TOWER: NEW YORK, JULY, 1'63)

Is it the wind, the many-tongued, the weird.
That cries in sharp distress about the eaves?
Is it the wind whose gathering shout is heard
With voice of peoples myriad like the leaves?
Is it the wind? Fly to the casement, quick,
And when the roar comes thick,
Fling wide the sash,
Await the crash!

Nothing. Some various solitary cries, --
Some sauntering woman's short hard laugh,
Or honester, a dog's bark, -- these arise
From lamplit street up to this free flagstaff:
Nothing remains of that low threatening sound;
The wind raves not the eaves around.
Clasp casement to, --
You heard not true.

Hark there again! a roar that holds a shriek!
But not without -- no, from below it comes:
What pulses up from solid earth to wreck
A vengeful word on towers and lofty domes?
What angry booming doth the trembling ear,
Glued to the stone wall, hear --
So deep, no air
Its weight can bear?

Grieve! 't is the voice of ignorance and vice,--
The rage of slaves who fancy they are free:
Men who would keep men slaves at any price,
Too blind their own black manacles to see.
Grieve! 't is that grisly spectre with a torch,
Riot -- that bloodies every porch,
Hurls justice down
And burns the town.





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