Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

INTERIM by CHARLES TRUEMAN LANHAM

First Line: JEWEL THE SWORD AND GRAVE THE SHIELD
Last Line: HAVING LEARNED LIFE'S SHIBBOLETH.
Subject(s): DEATH; SWORDS; TRUMPETS; DEAD, THE;
Jewel the sword and grave the shield.
Plume the thunder-vizored casque.
Let the trumpet tongues be sealed.
Death resumes his painted mask.

Forge the greaves and link the mail.
Burnish steel to cold blue light.
Death has put aside his flail.
Mars swings high and far tonight.

Train the arm and school the eye.
Steel the heart to ice-lipped Death.
They are Gods who learn to die
Having learned life's shibboleth.



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