Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON THE KING'S RETURN TO WHITE-HALL, AFTER HIS SUMMER'S PROGRESS, 1684, by THOMAS FLATMAN Poet's Biography First Line: From those serene and rapturous joys Last Line: When they fix'd on his brows his imperial crown. Subject(s): Charles Ii, King Of England (1630-1685); Homecoming | ||||||||
FROM those serene and rapturous joys A country life alone can give, Exempt from tumult and from noise, Where Kings forget the troubles of their reigns, And are almost as happy as their humble swains, By feeling that they live: Behold th' indulgent Prince is come To view the conquests of His mercy shown To the new Proselytes of His mighty town, And men and angels bid Him welcome home. Not with an helmet or a glitt'ring spear Does He appear; He boast[s] no trophies of a cruel conqueror, Brought back in triumph from a bloody war; But with an olive-branch adorn'd, As once the long expected Dove return'd. Welcome as soft refreshing show'rs, That raise the sickly heads of drooping flow'rs: Welcome as early beams of light To the benighted traveller, When he descries bright Phosphorus from afar, And all his fears are put to flight. Welcome, more welcome does He come Than life to Lazarus from his drowsy tomb, When in his winding-sheet, at his new birth, The strange surprising word was said -- Come forth! Nor does the Sun more comfort bring, When he turns Winter into Spring, Than the blest advent of a peaceful King. Chorus. With trumpets and shouts we receive the World's Wonder, And let the clouds echo His welcome with thunder, Such a thunder as applauded what mortals had done, When they fix'd on His brows His Imperial Crown. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMING HOME AT TWILIGHT IN LATE SUMMER by JANE KENYON THE NEGATIVES by PHILIP LEVINE THE WATER'S CHANT by PHILIP LEVINE THE EXILE'S RETURN by ROBERT LOWELL THE RETURN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TAKING THE TRAIN HOME by WILLIAM MATTHEWS I SHALL RETURN by CLAUDE MCKAY AN APPEAL TO CATS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE; SONG by THOMAS FLATMAN |
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