Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE GALLIC EAGLE, by BERNARD BARTON Poet's Biography First Line: Fame's favourite minion Last Line: Thy proud spirit never! Alternate Author Name(s): Quaker Poet Subject(s): Birds; Eagles | ||||||||
FAME'S favourite minion! The theme of her story; How quail'd is thy pinion, How sullied its glory: Where blood flow'd like water, Exulting it bore thee! Destruction and slaughter Behind and before thee. Where glory was blushing, Thy flight was the fleetest; Where death's sleep was hushing, Thy slumber was sweetest. When broad-swords were clashing Thy cry was the loudest; When deep they were gashing, Thy plume was the proudest. But, triumph is over: No longer victorious, No more shalt thou hover, Destructively glorious! Far from the battle's shock, Fate hath fast bound thee; Chain'd to the rugged rock, Waves warring round thee. Instead of the trumpet's sound, Sea-birds are shrieking: Hoarse on thy rampart's bound, Billows are breaking. The standards which led thee Are trampled and torn now; The flatteries which fed thee, Are turn'd into scorn now. For ensigns unfurling, Like sunbeams in brightness; Are crested waves curling, Like snow-wreaths in whiteness. No sycophants mock thee With dreams of dominion; But rude tempests rock thee, And ruffle thy pinion. Thy last flight is taken, Hope leaves thee forever; And victory shall waken Thy proud spirit never! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ONE TO NOTHING by CAROLYN KIZER FOR THE LAST WOLVERINE by JAMES DICKEY THE EAGLE OF THE BLUE by HERMAN MELVILLE THE EAGLE; A FRAGMENT by ALFRED TENNYSON THE DALLIANCE OF THE EAGLES by WALT WHITMAN THE EAGLE AND THE MOLE by ELINOR WYLIE MYRMIDONES: THE WOUNDED EAGLE by AESCHYLUS BRUCE AND THE SPIDER by BERNARD BARTON |
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