Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SCOTT MONUMENT, PRINCE'S STREET, EDINBURGH, by WILLIAM WATSON


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THE SCOTT MONUMENT, PRINCE'S STREET, EDINBURGH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Here sits he throned, where men and gods behold
Last Line: While yon grey ramparts kindle to the sun.
Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William
Subject(s): Hate; Life; Love; Monuments; Past; War


HERE sits he throned, where men and gods behold
His domelike brow -- a good man simply great;
Here in this highway proud, that arrow-straight
Cleaves at one stroke the new world from the old.
On this side, Commerce, Fashion, Progress, Gold;
On that, the Castle Hill, the Canongate,
A thousand years of war and love and hate
There palpably upstanding fierce and bold.
Here sits he throned; beneath him, full and fast,
The tides of Modern Life impetuous run.
O Scotland, was it well and meetly done?
For see! he sits with back turned on the Past --
He whose imperial edict bade it last
While yon grey ramparts kindle to the sun.





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