Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SALOME (1), by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SALOME (1), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How little didst thou think, while tripping down
Last Line: And thy young hands have borne john baptist's head!
Subject(s): Salome (1st Century A.d.)


How little didst thou think, while tripping down
To meet Herodias, from that wild carouse,
That thou wouldst win such terrible renown,
And men should name thy name with heavy brows!
For, in the fierce light of thy mother's guilt,
Before the nations thou art dancing still
Up to the wine-cups! Holy life was spilt,
And thy fair girlhood served a murderous will:
And so thou fillest up the historic page
With the keen Scribe and ruthless Pharisee,
And, linked with all the furies of the age,
Hast found no pitying heart to plead for thee;
For, lo! thy dancing-dress is bloody-red,
And thy young hands have borne John Baptist's head!





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