Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE EMPIRE OF THE EAST, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE EMPIRE OF THE EAST, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hail to the glorious morning
Last Line: To the caesars' ancient throne!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Variant Title(s): The Russian's Dream Of Constantinople
Subject(s): Constantinople; Istambul; Byzantium


HAIL to the glorious morning
When the Cross again shall shine
On the summit of Saint Sophia,
O city of Constantine!
And that day of sack and slaughter
When the wild, despairing cries
Of "Kyrie Eleison!" fainter
Went wailing up to the skies,
Shall be lost in the splendid triumph
As the Church reclaims her own,
And the Patriarch welcomes our Lord the Czar
To the Caesars' ancient throne!

In the sky of the south, at midnight,
We have seen God's flaming sign,
And we know he will drive the Moslem horde,
As chaff, from his sacred shrine!
Silent will be the muezzin
As the sun on Asia sets;
Folded the crescent banner;
Crumbled the minarets.

Then in the grand Cathedral
Victorious chants we'll raise,
While the saints look down with loving eyes,
And the gems of the altar blaze.
Hail to the day when the Eagles
And the Cross shall gain their own,
As the Patriarch welcomes our Lord the Czar
To the Caesars' ancient throne!





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