Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ROMANCERO: BOOK 2. LAMENTATIONS: LAZARUS. 20. ENFANT PERDU, by HEINRICH HEINE Poet's Biography First Line: Forlorn posts leading, thirty long years fought I Last Line: My arms break not, my heart alone doth break. Subject(s): Blood; Fear; Freedom; Singing & Singers; Liberty; Songs | ||||||||
FORLORN posts leading, thirty long years fought I Stoutly and well on freedom's battle plain; Hopeless of triumph, never hoped or thought I Safe and uninjured home to see again. I watch'd both day and night, slept not a tittle, As when I camp'd amongst my friends of yore; (And if I felt inclined to doze a little, soon was waken'd by my neighbour's snore.) In those long nights ennui would oft assail me, And fear as well, -- ('tis fools who never fear;) To scare them, I delighted to regale me With whistling songs all full of gibe and jeer. Yes, watchfully I stood, my weapon grasping, -- If a suspicious looking fool drew nigh, I took a careful aim, and laid him gasping With a hot bullet in his paunch or thigh. But by-and-by, if I may so express it, This clumsy fool, whom I so much deride, Proves the best shot; and now, I must confess it, My blood pours forth, my wounds are gaping wide. A post is vacant! All my wounds are gaping -- One falls, the others follow in his wake; Unvanquish'd fall I, -- from my hands escaping My arms break not, my heart alone doth break. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE APOLLO TRIO by CONRAD AIKEN BAD GIRL SINGING by MARK JARMAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 4 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 5 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE THE SONG OF THE NIGHTINGALE IS LIKE THE SCENT OF SYRINGA by MINA LOY |
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