Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BLENHEIM, SELECTION, by JOHN PHILIPS Last Line: Of drums, o'ercame their groans. Alternate Author Name(s): Phillips, John+(1) | ||||||||
NOW from each van The brazen instruments of death discharge Horrible flames, and turbid streaming clouds Of smoke sulphureous; intermixed with these Large globous irons fly, of dreadful hiss, Singeing the air, and from long distance bring Surprising slaughter; on each side they fly By chains connexed, and with destructive sweep Behead whole troops at once; the hairy scalps Are whirled aloof, while numerous trunks bestrow Th' ensanguined field; with latent mischief stored Show'rs of grenadoes rain, by sudden burst Disploding murd'rous bowels, fragments of steel, And stones, and glass, and nitrous grain adust. A thousand ways at once the shivered orbs Fly diverse, working torment and foul rout With deadly bruise, and gashes furrowed deep. Of pain impatient, the high-prancing steeds Disdain the curb, and, flinging to and fro, Spurn their dismounted riders; they expire Indignant, by unhostile wounds destroyed. Thus through each army death in various shapes Prevailed; here mangled limbs, here brains and gore Lie clotted; lifeless some: with anguish these Gnashing, and loud laments invoking aid, Unpitied and unheard; the louder din Of guns, and trumpets' clang, and solemn sound Of drums, o'ercame their groans. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WE FACE THE FUTURE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON MODERN LOVE: 1 by GEORGE MEREDITH REPRESSION OF WAR EXPERIENCE by SIEGFRIED SASSOON THANKSGIVING DAY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |
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