Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THREE MEN OF TRURO: 1. E.W.B. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, by ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The church's outpost on a neck of land Last Line: Look down, behold how bravely goes the war! Alternate Author Name(s): Q; Quiller-couch, A. T. Subject(s): Benson, Edward White (1829-1896); Leadership; Soldiers; War | ||||||||
THE Church's outpost on a neck of land By ebb of faith the foremost left the last Dull, starved of hope, we watched the driven sand Blown through the hour-glass, covering our past Counting no hours to our reliefno hail Across the hills, and on the sea no sail! Sick of monotonous days we lost account, In fitful dreams remembering days of old And nightsth' erect Archangel on the Mount With sword that drank the dawn; the Vase of Gold, The moving Grail athwart the starry fields Where all the heavenly spearmen clashed their shields. In dereliction by the deafening shore We sought no more aloft, but sank our eyes, Probing the sea for food, the earth for ore. Ah, yet had one good soldier of the skies Burst through the wrack reporting news of them, How had we run and kissed his tunic's hem! Nay, but he came! Nay, but he stood and cried, Panting with joy and the fierce fervent race, 'Arm, arm! for Christ returns!'and all our pride, Our ancient pride, answered that eager face: 'Repair His battlements!Your Christ is near!' And, half in dream, we raised the soldiers' cheer. Far, as we flung that challenge, fled the ghosts Back, as we built, the obscene foe withdrew High to the song of hammers sang the hosts Of Heavenand lo! the daystar, and a new Dawn with its chalice and its wind as wine; And youth was hope, and life once more divine! Day, and hot noon, and now the evening glow, And 'neath our scaffolding the city spread Twilit, with rain-wash'd roofs, andhark!below, One late bell tolling. 'Dead? Our Captain dead?' Nay, here with us he fronts the westering sun With shaded eyes and counts the wide fields won. Aloft with us! And while another stone Swings to its socket, haste with trowel and hod! Win the old smile a moment ere, alone, Soars the great soul to bear report to God. Night falls; but thou, dear Captain, from thy star Look down, behold how bravely goes the war! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I AM YOUR WAITER TONIGHT AND MY NAME IS DIMITRI by ROBERT HASS MITRAILLIATRICE by ERNEST HEMINGWAY RIPARTO D'ASSALTO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY WAR VOYEURS by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SO MANY BLOOD-LAKES by ROBINSON JEFFERS SAGE COUNSEL by ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH |
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