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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MONSTER, by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH Poet's Biography First Line: In place of the heart, a serpent Last Line: "without that magic -- love!" Alternate Author Name(s): Brankovichera, Vidosava | |||
"IN place of the heart, a serpent; Rage -- for the mind's command; And eye aflame with wildness; A weapon in the hand; "A brow with midnight clouded; On the lips a cynic smile That tells of a curse unmatchable -- Born of a sin most vile. "Of longing, or hope, or virtue, No vestige may there be; You, even in vice inhuman -- What can you want of me? "You in its maddest moment The Deepest Pit designed, -- Let loose to sow confusion In the order of mankind; "Here Hatred found you crawling Like vermin, groveling, prone, Filled you with blood of others And poisoned all your own. "Your very thoughts are fiendish -- Smoke of the fires of Hell. Weird as you are, how is it I seem to know you well? "Why with your wild delirium Do you infect my sleep? Why with my daily footstep An equal measure keep?" . . . The monster mutely beckons me Back with his ghostly hand, And dreading his fearful answer I heed the grim command. "Nay, softly," he says; "I pray thee, Silence thy frightened moan, And wipe the sweat from thy forehead; My kinsman thou, my own! "Look at me well, good cousin; Such wert thou fashioned of! Thou, too, wouldst me resemble Without that magic -- Love!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MOTHER OF BOSNIA by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH CURSES by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH GIULICHE (JEWELS), SELECTION by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH LUKA FILIPOV (INCIDENT OF MONTENEGRIN WAR OF 1876-78) by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH MYSTERIOUS LOVE by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH THE COMING OF SONG by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH THE GIPSY PRAISES HIS HORSE by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH THE THREE GIAOURS by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH TWO DREAMS by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH WHY THE ARMY BECAME QUIET by ZMAI IOVAN IOVANOVICH |
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