Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CALVARY, by JOHN ROTHSCHILD First Line: Acres of crosses - wooden crosses - bleak Last Line: Of folded arms in the menacing hour? Subject(s): Calvary; Crosses; Crucifixion; Death; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; Jesus Christ - Crucifixion; Dead, The | ||||||||
An invisible chorus chants in the winter heavens. Acres of crosseswooden crossesbleak as bonesand gray as sorrow. And some of them were crucified In soul and body, and doubly died. They who came dragging the cross of Hate. They who came cursing to their Fate. Who taught them to hate, who sent them to die? 'Twas you, ye women now shrunken with weeping! 'Twas you, ye men now broken and hoary, who waved a flag and talked of glory! When they went marching quick and bright, When they went tramping off to fight and to kill and to die. And did you fear, ye stern-eyed men, ye women knitting swollen-lidded? Fear for the Spirit, and think that Force Would save the world from some great loss? Why did ye wager sin with sin? Could ye not trust the spirit to win? Acres of crosseslittle crossesrow on rowand gray as sorrow. When will you learn, ye folk of folly, how wrath is weak, how patience is strong? When will you learn the terrible power of folded arms in the menacing hour? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND |
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