Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DIRGE OF THE HIGHLAND CHIEF IN 'WAVERLEY', by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Son of the mighty and the free! Last Line: Last of a mighty line! Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Scotland | ||||||||
SON of the mighty and the free! High-minded leader of the brave! Was it for lofty chief like thee, To fill a nameless grave! Oh! if amidst the valiant slain, The warrior's bier had been thy lot, E'en though on red Culloden's plain, We then had mourned thee not. But darkly closed thy dawn of fame, That dawn whose sunbeam rose so fair; Vengeance alone may breathe thy name, The watchword of Despair! Yet oh! if gallant spirit's power Hath e'er ennobled death like thine, Then glory marked thy parting hour, Last of a mighty line! O'er thy own towers the sunshine falls, But cannot chase their silent gloom; Those beams that gild thy native walls Are sleeping on thy tomb! Spring on thy mountains laughs the while, Thy green woods wave in vernal air, But the loved scenes may vainly smile. Not e'en thy dust is there. On thy blue hills no bugle-sound Is mingling with the torrent's roar, Unmarked, the wild deer sport around; Thou leadst the chase no more! Thy gates are closed, thy halls are still, Those halls where pealed the choral strain; They hear the wind's deep murmuring thrill, And all is hushed again. No banner from the lonely tower Shall wave its blazoned folds on high; There the tall grass, and summer flower, Unmarked shall spring and die. No more thy bard, for other ear, Shall wake the harp once loved by thine -- Hushed be the strain thou canst not hear, Last of a mighty line! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SCOTLAND'S WINTER by EDWIN MUIR ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE FUSELAGE INSTALLATION by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA SHOOTING SEASON; IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND by ROBINSON JEFFERS IN JOHN UPDIKE'S ROOM by CHRISTOPHER WISEMAN THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE HEART OF THE BRUCE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN ROBERT BRUCE'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY BEFORE BANNOCKBURN by ROBERT BURNS A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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