Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HOLOCAUST, by CLAUDE HOUGHTON Poet's Biography First Line: Before men loosed these iron gods of strife Last Line: Beneath a canopy of alien stars? Subject(s): Cruelty; Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
BEFORE men loosed these iron gods of strife, Before the stars were from the darkness hurled, I loved you in a flower-lit wonder-world, I loved you, and through you I loved all life; Then fell this dolorous night, unnatural, rife With crimes unnumbered and black flag unfurled: I lost you while the writhing phantoms curled About each dream and slew each with a knife. O when the day breaks and the shadows flee, When life moves out of this red masque of death, And all my soul breaks through her prison bars Then, my lost love, will you return to me, Or will you sleep, all innocent of breath, Beneath a canopy of alien stars? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND CHANT D'AUTOMNE by CLAUDE HOUGHTON |
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