Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CZAR ALEXANDER THE SECOND, by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI


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CZAR ALEXANDER THE SECOND, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: From him did forty million serfs, endow'd
Last Line: To god bears witness of his people's woe.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rossetti, Gabriel Charles Dante
Subject(s): Alexander Ii, Czar Of Russia (1818-1881); Assassination


(13TH MARCH, 1'81)

FROM him did forty million serfs, endow'd
Each with six feet of death-due soil, receive
Rich freeborn lifelong land, whereon to sheave
Their country's harvest. These to-day aloud
Demand of Heaven a Father's blood,--sore bow'd
With tears and thrilled with wrath; who, while they grieve,
On every guilty head would fain achieve
All torment by his edicts disallow'd.

He stayed the knout's red-ravening fangs; and first
Of Russian traitors, his own murderers go
White to the tomb. While he,--laid foully low
With limbs red-rent, with festering brain which erst
Willed kingly freedom,--'gainst the deed accurst
To God bears witness of his people's woe.





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