Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ANGEL OF THE CORNICE, by FLORENCE WILKINSON EVANS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ANGEL OF THE CORNICE, by                    
First Line: Listen to me, ye creeping ants of men
Last Line: Ye, too, shall learn the love that is remorse.
Alternate Author Name(s): Wilkinson, Florence
Subject(s): Angels; Heroism; New York City - Buildings; Heroes; Heroines


Listen to me, ye creeping ants of men,
Because of human hearts I snatched and slew,
Because of blood poured out, because of blood,
I am drawn close to you.

Listen, across the quivering sea of roofs
Thousands of miles—that cry along the wires!
Aerial signals, soundless waves of air
Heavy with import, moan of steel-spun spires!

I brood above the costliness of the task
Through which these human creatures fall consumed.
Men, bow the head before the dizzying grave
Whose valour and toil to such a death are doomed.

This is the harvest you have sowed;
Your blood is mixed with mine, with mine;
And I, who break you on my fiery wheel,
Not Moloch am I, but divine, divine.

The pitiless Angel of the Mercenary?
Nay, for I too am great,
Lifting the vast hopes of the modern world
As on the knees of fate.

I am Winged Victory at the prow,
Oh ye who serve the God of force,
Pilgrims that ride the deep with me,
Ye, too, shall learn the love that is remorse.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net