Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HERE AND THERE, by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HERE AND THERE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Here the warm sunshine fills
Last Line: Dear christ, soothe, save them there.
Subject(s): Franco-prussian War (1870-1871)


HERE the warm sunshine fills
Like wine of gods the deepening, cupshaped dells,
Embossed with marvellous flowers; the happy rills
Roam through the autumnal fields whose rich increase
Of gathered grain smiles under heavens of peace;
While many a bird-song swells
From glades of neighboring woodlands, cool and fair, --
Content and peace are here.

There the wild battle's wrath
Thunders from castled height to storied plain,
Ploughs with red lightning-bolts its terrible path,
And sows the abhorrent seeds of blood and death,
Blown far on Desolation's tameless breath,
While for autumnal grain
Time reaps the harvest of a bleak despair, --
God's curse consumes them there.

Here jovial children play
Beneath the latest vine-leaves; innocent kings,
And blissful queens, -- on them the matron Day,
Like a sweet mother drops her kisses light;
The every clouds some secret joy makes bright,
And round us clings and clings,
With Ariel arms, the season's influence rare, --
Heaven's heart beats near us here.

There love bemoans its lost,
Countless as seaside sands; all joys of life
Rest locked and stirless in the blood-red frost;
Ye drums, roll out, shrill clarions, peal your parts!
Ye cannot drown the wail of broken hearts,
Nor still that spiritual strife
Which thrills through Victory's voice its death-notes drear, --
Dear Christ, soothe, save them there.





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