Classic and Contemporary Poetry
POLAND, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: Speak not thus in tones of gladness Last Line: God of right, the right defend! Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Europe; Nations; Patriotism; Poland | ||||||||
SPEAK not thus in tones of gladness, For my soul is steeped in sadness; Mournful visions haunt my mind The wronged, the wrongers of mankind. Bleeding, bound, and ghastly rise The crushed, the wronged, before mine eyes; The wronger comes, with murderous brand, Bondsman's chain, and felon hand. Ah! my spirit burns and bleeds For thee, O Poland! Ruthless deeds Of brutal violence, barbarous wrong Themes for Campbell's deathless song Thou hast borne for sleepless years, Dyed in blood and steeped in tears. Now from charnel vault ascending, From thy form the cerements rending, From thy limbs the despot's chain Righteous Heaven, is this in vain? When the crown'd, unholy alliance Met for cold ambitious dalliance Claims and pleas of right rejecting, Poland's mangled form dissecting A limb was carved for Prussian brother, Austria coolly grasped another, While the Russian Bear kept growling O'er the trunk, his war-wolves howling In the rear, gaunt, fierce, audacious, Britain's sympathies were spacious, But she would do nothing more; So she signed and sealed and swore. Still believing she is bound By that deed of wrong profound, Still the wronger she will cherish, Though a noble people perish, And their country's soil be sodden With her children's blood downtrodden. Again will Britain sympathise Tears will rain from ladies' eyes At recital of her wrongs; Concerts, balls, bazaars, and songs Without end, to aid the Poles; The sympathising current rolls Strong and deep. 'Tis ever thus We aid the Poles. With brother Russ A feeble diplomacy dallies, Being of the Holy Allies, Oh! unjust, unwise, and cruel, Thus to cast such precious jewel Down before the northern boar His horrid tusks, for evermore Shall they gnash, and grind, and rend? God of right, the right defend! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWNFALL OF POLAND [FALL OF WARSAW, 1794] by THOMAS CAMPBELL POLAND OF DEATH: 1 by ALLEN GROSSMAN THE DIVISION OF POLAND by EDWIN ARNOLD POLAND by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE BATTLE-FIELD OF RASZYN by KAZIMIERZ BRODZINSKI LINES ON POLAND by THOMAS CAMPBELL TO IGNACE PADEREWSKI by THOMAS AUGUSTINE DALY A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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