Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MICHELANGELO, by JOSE-MARIA DE HEREDIA (1842-1905)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MICHELANGELO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yes, he was darkly haunted, we may say
Last Line: The anger of a god down-borne by earth.
Subject(s): Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)


Yes, he was darkly haunted, we may say,
When in the Sixtine, far from festal Rome
Alone he painted wall or floating dome
With sibyls, prophet, and the Judgement Day.
He heard within him, weeping hard alway,
The Titan he would chain 'bove eagles' home,
Love, country, glory and defeat, -- like foam
In face of conquering death; his marble -- falsest clay!
As well those heavy giants languid with strength,
Those slaves imprisoned in a stone vein's length,
As if he twisted them in their strange birth,
And in the marble cold had thrust his soul,
Making a fearful shiver through it roll
The anger of a god down-borne by earth.






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