Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CHANT OF THE FOUGHT FIELD, by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS Poet's Biography First Line: As one who under evening skies Last Line: Unhand me, time! | ||||||||
Nunc dimittis AS ONE who under evening skies Upon a fought field stricken lies (Unknown for stains of blood and grime) Is fain the mortal shaft to draw And let life issue through the flaw, Even so am I, and even so, Unhand me, Time, and let me go -- Unhand me, Time! Upon his clogged and languid sense Vague cries are borne -- he heeds not whence, Nor if they utter cheer sublime, Or fill the air with craven moan; His spirit's fire is all unblown; Even so is mine -- so faint, so low; Unhand me, Time, and let me go -- Unhand me, Time! For heaven-truth my sword I drew, With anger keen I did pursue Not the frail worker but the crime He framed in glooming ignorance. Now let who may lift sword and lance, Or let the rust upon them grow! Unhand me, Time, and let me go -- Unhand me, Time! Or well or ill if I have wrought, My deed was mated with my thought, As bell with bell in tuneful chime. All things that fall to man's dear lot I did receive, and faltered not; Quick come the last! and even so, Unhand me, Time, and let me go -- Unhand me, Time! A dream it was! All that hath been Now lapseth like some passioned scene Played by a well-deceiving mime, Who most of all himself deceives, And, waking up, regretless leaves. I reach for substance past the show -- Unhand me, Time, and let me go -- Unhand me, Time! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INSOMNIA by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS THE QUIET PILGRIM by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS THE TEARS OF THE POPLARS by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS TO SPAIN - A LAST WORD by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS WINTER SLEEP by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS A CHRISTOPHER OF THE SHENANDOAH by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS A DREAM TEMPLE; NEW YORK CITY by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS A FAR CRY TO HEAVEN by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS A LITTLE BOY'S VAIN REGRET by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS A MINOR NOTE IN SPRING by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS |
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