Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA, by ALICE MEYNELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The light young man who was to die Last Line: Catherine, the service of his knee? Alternate Author Name(s): Meynell, Wilfrid, Mrs.; Thompson, Alice Christina Subject(s): Catherine, Saint (1522-1590) | ||||||||
Written for Strephon, who said that a woman must lean, or she should not have his chivalry. THE light young man who was to die, Stopped in his frolic by the State, Aghast, beheld the world go by; But Catherine crossed his dungeon gate. She found his lyric courage dumb, His stripling beauties strewn in wrecks, His modish bravery overcome; Small profit had he of his sex. On any old wife's level he, For once -- for all. But he alone -- Man -- must not fear the mystery, The pang, the passage, the unknown: Death. He did fear it, in his cell, Darkling amid the Tuscan sun; And, weeping, at her feet he fell, The sacred, young, provincial nun. She prayed, she preached him innocent; She gave him to the Sacrificed; On her courageous breast he leant, The breast where beat the heart of Christ. He left it for the block, with cries Of victory on his severed breath. That crimson head she clasped, her eyes Blind with the splendour of his death. And will the man of modern years -- Stern on the Vote -- withhold from thee, Thou prop, thou cross, erect, in tears, Catherine, the service of his knee? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I AM THE WAY' by ALICE MEYNELL A DEAD HARVEST (IN KENSINGTON GARDENS) by ALICE MEYNELL A FATHER OF WOMEN: AD SOROREM E. B. by ALICE MEYNELL A LETTER FROM A GIRL TO HER OWN OLD AGE by ALICE MEYNELL A POET'S FANCIES: 8. THE MODERN POET; A SONG OF DERIVATIONS by ALICE MEYNELL CHRIST IN THE UNIVERSE by ALICE MEYNELL CRADLE SONG AT TWILIGHT by ALICE MEYNELL |
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