Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BATTLE OF STONE RIVER, TENNESSEE; VIEW FROM OXFORD CLOISTERS, by HERMAN MELVILLE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: With tewksbury and barnet heath Last Line: Like yorkist and lancastrian? Subject(s): American Civil War; Rosecrans, William Starke (1819-1898); Stone River, Battle Of (1863); U.s. - History | ||||||||
With Tewksbury and Barnet heath In days to come the field shall blend, The story dim and date obscure; In legend all shall end. Even now, involved in forest shade A Druid-dream the strife appears, The fray of yesterday assumes The haziness of years. In North and South still beats the vein Of Yorkist and Lancastrian. Our rival Roses warred for Sway -- For Sway, but named the name of Right; And Passion, scorning pain and death, Lent sacred fervor to the fight. Each lifted up a broidered cross, While crossing blades profaned the sign; Monks blessed the fratricidal lance, And sisters scarfs could twine. Do North and South the sin retain Of Yorkist and Lancastrian? But Rosecrans in the cedarn glade, And, deep in denser cypress gloom, Dark Breckinridge, shall fade away Or thinly loom. The pale throngs who in forest cowed Before the spell of battle's pause, Forefelt the stillness that shall dwell On them and on their wars. North and South shall join the train Of Yorkist and Lancastrian. But where the sword has plunged so deep, And then been turned within the wound By deadly Hate; where Climes contend On vasty ground -- No warning Alps or seas between, And small the curb of creed or law, And blood is quick, and quick the brain; Shall North and South their rage deplore, And reunited thrive amain Like Yorkist and Lancastrian? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OLD OSAWATOMIE by CARL SANDBURG THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG by HARRY MACARTHY LEE'S PAROLE by MARION MANVILLE THE SURRENDER OF NEW ORLEANS by MARION MANVILLE THE LITTLE ODYSSEY OF JASON QUINT, OF SCIENCE, DOCTOR by THOMAS MCGRATH A CANTICLE: SIGNIFICANT OF NATIONAL EXALTATION CLOSE OF WAR by HERMAN MELVILLE A GRAVE NEAR PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA by HERMAN MELVILLE FORMERLY A SLAVE' (AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT, BY E. VEDDER) by HERMAN MELVILLE THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE |
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