Classic and Contemporary Poetry
KING PHILIP'S MEN, by AUDREY ALEXANDRA BROWN First Line: At dusk they heard the roar Last Line: "dauntless in death!" Subject(s): Courage; Disasters; Faith; God; Philip, King (native American Chief); Shipwrecks; Spain; Spanish Armada; Valor; Bravery; Belief; Creed; Metacomet; King Philip's War (1675-76) | ||||||||
.... The Estrella and the Rosa de Dios, flying with the rest of the Armada, were separated therefrom and driven upon the Orkneys by a great wind that arose a little ere dusk. .... When therefore the captain of the Rosa de Dios perceived that all hope was gone, he called his company together and spoke to them, saying: "Men of Spain and servants of King Philip, God hath ordained that from this our voyage there shall be no returning. Wherefore we will first make our prayer as Christians, and afterward die like men." At dusk they heard the roar Of all the ocean hurled Upon the iron shore Of half the world. Through the wan even-gloam With whipped and straining breath Blind-eyed across the foam They looked on death. Then said their captain"Shriven We drive upon the dawn; Turn we to thoughts of heaven, For earth is gone. "Fair lips that praise our fame New April in the vine Pomegranate flowers like flame, And golden wine "Bird-song and ivory rose All fruit of all delight, God hath ordained shall close For us to-night: "Ay, and the bitter past, The evil-starred campaign End for us here at last, O men of Spain! "The great red death of day Rushes upon our ships; Keep couragewe will pray With steadfast lips "That God, who made us men, Grant us like men to die: Then will we rise, and then Will lay life by. "Not with dishonoring fear, Though the deep thunder rolls And the black verge is near, Yield we our souls: "We, who have dared the flood, The rapier, and the flame, Remember that high blood From whence we came: "Not flinching from the wave Render we up our breath; But turn to face our grave, Dauntless in death!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE REED by AUDREY ALEXANDRA BROWN SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: LAMBERT HUTCHINS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS POETRY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: COLUMBUS CHENEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ON THE BRINK by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY HARRY PLOUGHMAN by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: 'EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE' by RUDYARD KIPLING A SONG OF PANAMA by ALFRED DAMON RUNYON HOME THOUGHTS FROM EUROPE by HENRY VAN DYKE IN REFERENCE TO HER CHILDREN, 23 JUNE, 1659 by ANNE BRADSTREET |
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