Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LET US DEPART, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Night hung on salem's towers Last Line: "let us depart!" Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Jerusalem; Temples; Mosques | ||||||||
NIGHT hung on Salem's towers, And a brooding hush profound Lay where the Roman eagle shone High o'er the tents around -- The tents that rose by thousands, In the moonlight glimmering pale; Like white waves of a frozen sea Filling an Alpine vale. And the Temple's massy shadow Fell broad, and dark, and still, In peace -- as if the Holy One Yet watched His chosen hill. But a fearful sound was heard In that old fane's deepest heart, As if mighty wings rushed by, And a dread voice raised the cry, "Let us depart!" Within the fated city E'en then fierce discord raved, Though o'er night's heaven the comet sword Its vengeful token waved. There were shouts of kindred warfare Through the dark streets ringing high, Though every sign was full which told Of the bloody vintage nigh; Though the wild red spears and arrows Of many a meteor host Went flashing o'er the holy stars, In the sky now seen, now lost. And that fearful sound was heard In the Temple's deepest heart, As if mighty wings rushed by, And a voice cried mournfully, "Let us depart!" But within the fated city There was revelry that night -- The wine-cup and the timbrel note, And the blaze of banquet-light. The footsteps of the dancer Went bounding through the hall, And the music of the dulcimer Summoned to festival: While the clash of brother-weapons Made lightning in the air, And the dying at the palace-gates Lay down in their despair; And that fearful sound was heard At the Temple's thrilling heart, As if mighty wings rushed by, And a dread voice raised the cry, "Let us depart!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BAYADERE by FRANCIS SALTUS SALTUS AT DENDERA by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR RAMESES WORSHIPS RAMESES AT ABU SIMBEL by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR GLIMPSES OF ITALY: 5. LIKE PAESTUM'S TEMPLE by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON MAYAN TEMPLE by ADA CLARKE CARMICHIEL THE EARTHLY HOUSE by PHOEBE CARY THE DESERTED SHRINE by GLADYS CROMWELL THE ARK OF THE COVENANT by NINA DAVIS THE MENORAH by MIRIAM DEL BANCO A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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