Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WAR, by GEORGE STERLING Poet's Biography First Line: The night was on the world, and in my sleep Last Line: Men rose and made a second sacrifice. Subject(s): Dreams; Military; War; Nightmares | ||||||||
GEORGE STERLING The night was on the world, and in my sleep I heard a voice that cried across the dark: "Give steel!" And gazing I beheld a red, Infernal stithy. There were Titans five Assembled, thewed and naked and malign Against the glare. One to the furnace throat, Whence issued screams, fed shapes of human use The hammer, axe and plow. Those molten soon, Another haled the dazzling ingot forth With tongs, and gave it to the anvil. Two, With massy sledges throbbing at the task, Harried the gloom with unenduring stars And poured a clangorous music on the dark, With loud, astounding shock and counter-shock Incessant. And the fifth colossus stood The captain of that labor. From his form Spread wings more black than Hell's high-altarribbed As are the vampire-bat's. The night grew old, And then was I aware they shaped a sword. ... In that domain and interval of dream 'Twas dawn upon the headlands of the world, And I, appalled, beheld how men had reared A mountain, dark below the morning star A peak made up of horses and of herds, Of cradles, yokes and all the handiwork Of man. Upon its crest were gems and gold, Rare fabrics, and the woof of humble looms. Harvests and groves and battlements were made Part of its ramparts, and the whole was drenched With oil and wine and honey. Then thereon Men bound their sons, the fair, alert and strong, Sparing no household. And when all were bound, Brands were brought forth: the mount became a pyre. Black from that red immensity of flame, A tower of smoke, upcoiling to the sky, Was shaped by the winds, and took the form Of him who in the stithy gave command. A shadow between day and men he stood; His eyes looked forth on nothingness; his wings Domed desolations, and the scarlet sun Glowed through their darkness like a seal that God Might set on Hell forever. Then the pyre shrank And he reeled. Whereat, to save that shape Their madness had evoked in death and pain, Men rose and made a second sacrifice. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GIVE YOUR WISH LIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE BLACK VULTURE by GEORGE STERLING |
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