Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DIRE: 1. A DEAD KING, by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Go down to hell. This end is good to see Last Line: Here is no room for thee; go down to hell.' Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Death; Hell; Nations; Dead, The | ||||||||
[Ferdinand II. entered Malebolge May 22nd, 1859.] Go down to hell. This end is good to see; The breath is lightened and the sense at ease Because thou art not; sense nor breath there is In what thy body was, whose soul shall be Chief nerve of hell's pained heart eternally. Thou art abolished from the midst of these That art what thou wast: Pius from his knees Blows off the dust that flecked them, bowed for thee. Yea, now the long-tongued slack-lipped litanies Fail, and the priest has no more prayer to sell -- Now the last Jesuit found about thee is The beast that made thy fouler flesh his cell -- Time lays his finger on thee, saying, 'Cease; Here is no room for thee; go down to hell.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A BALLAD OF DEATH by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |
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