Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DREAM OF ARGYLE, by ELIZABETH H. WHITTIER Poet's Biography First Line: Earthly arms no more uphold him Last Line: Walks the great maccallum more! Subject(s): Scotland | ||||||||
EARTHLY arms no more uphold him On his prison's stony floor; Waiting death in his last slumber, Lies the doomed MacCallum More. And he dreams a dream of boyhood; Rise again his heathery hills, Sound again the hound's long baying, Cry of moor-fowl, laugh of rills. Now he stands amidst his clansmen In the low, long banquet-hall, Over grim ancestral armor Sees the ruddy firelight fall. Once again, with pulses beating, Hears the wandering minstrel tell How Montrose on Inverary Thief-like from his mountains fell. Down the glen, beyond the castle, Where the linn's swift waters shine, Round the youthful heir of Argyle Shy feet glide and white arms twine. Fairest of the rustic dancers, Blue-eyed Effie smiles once more, Bends to him her snooded tresses, Treads with him the grassy floor. Now he hears the pipes lamenting, Harpers for his mother mourn, Slow, with sable plume and pennon, To her cairn of burial borne. Then anon his dreams are darker, Sounds of battle fill his ears, And the pibroch's mournful wailing For his father's fall he hears. Wild Lochaber's mountain echoes Wail in concert for the dead, And Loch Awe's deep waters murmur For the Campbell's glory fled! Fierce and strong the godless tyrants Trample the apostate land, While her poor and faithful remnant Wait for the Avenger's hand. Once again at Inverary, Years of weary exile o'er, Armed to lead his scattered clansmen, Stands the bold MacCallum More. Once again to battle calling Sound the war-pipes through the glen; And the court-yard of Dunstaffnage Rings with tread of armed men. All is lost! The godless triumph, And the faithful ones and true From the scaffold and the prison Covenant with God anew. On the darkness of his dreaming Great and sudden glory shone; Over bonds and death victorious Stands he by the Father's throne! From the radiant ranks of martyrs Notes of joy and praise he hears, Songs of his poor land's deliverance Sounding from the future years. Lo, he wakes! but airs celestial Bathe him in immortal rest, And he sees with unsealed vision Scotland's cause with victory blest. Shining hosts attend and guard him As he leaves his prison door; And to death as to a triumph Walks the great MacCallum More! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SCOTLAND'S WINTER by EDWIN MUIR ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE FUSELAGE INSTALLATION by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA SHOOTING SEASON; IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND by ROBINSON JEFFERS IN JOHN UPDIKE'S ROOM by CHRISTOPHER WISEMAN THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE HEART OF THE BRUCE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN ROBERT BRUCE'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY BEFORE BANNOCKBURN by ROBERT BURNS CHARITY by ELIZABETH H. WHITTIER |
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