Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DIRE: 6. LOCUSTA, by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Come close and see her and hearken. This is she Last Line: Praying. There are who say she is bride of christ. Subject(s): Cups; Hell; Jesus Christ; Nations; Nero, Roman Emperor (37-68 A.d.) | ||||||||
COME close and see her and hearken. This is she. Stop the ways fast against the stench that nips Your nostril as it nears her. Lo, the lips That between prayer and prayer find time to be Poisonous, the hands holding a cup and key, Key of deep hell, cup whence blood reeks and drips; The loose lewd limbs, the reeling hingeless hips, The scurf that is not skin but leprosy. This haggard harlot grey of face and green With the old hand's cunning mixes her new priest The cup she mixed her Nero, stirred and spiced. She lisps of Mary and Jesus Nazarene With a tongue tuned, and head that bends to the east, Praying. There are who say she is bride of Christ. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A NEO-PAGAN by LEE WILSON DODD OH, LYDIA by SONIA RUTHELE NOVAK TO THE COUNTESS OF EXETER by MATTHEW PRIOR CHILDREN OF LILITH by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK CONSOLATION OF PHILOSOPHY: BOOK 3, METRE 4 by ANICIUS MANLIUS SEVERINUS BOETHIUS A BALLAD OF DEATH by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A BALLAD OF LIFE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |
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