Paine! The Prison of France! Lafayette! The Bastile key to our Washington, Whose feet on the necks of tyrants set Shattered their prisons every one. The key hangs here on his white walls high, That all shall see, that none shall forget What tyrants have been, what they may be yet; And the Potomac rolling by. On Washington's walls let it rust and rust, And tellits story of blood and of tears, That Time still holds to the Poet's trust, To people his pages for years and years. The monstrous shape on the white walls high, Like a thief in chains let it rot and rust -- Its kings and adorers crowned in dust: And the Potomac rolling by. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: 18. ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEDMONT by JOHN MILTON AMORETTI: 68 by EDMUND SPENSER THE AFTER WOMAN by FRANCIS THOMPSON PAN'S PIPING by ALCAEUS OF MESSENE SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 5. ETERNAL by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |