Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE COSSACK'S BRIDE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE COSSACK'S BRIDE, by                    
First Line: From the island's sheltered harbor
Last Line: Like the pageant of a dream
Subject(s): Brides


From the island's sheltered harbor
To the river's broadening stream
Comes a fleet of painted galleys,
Like the pageant of a dream.

In the first sits Stanka-Rahzin,
With his arm around his bride;
Flushed with vodka and with pleasure,
He surveys his crew with pride.

Hark! what mean their angry murmurs?
"He forsakes us for a kiss!
All his manhood hath he bartered
For a dream of sensuous bliss!"

As the harsh reproaches reach him,
He looks sternly at his bride,
Though his strong arm still enfolds her,
Though he draws her to his side;

And his dark brows meet in anger,
Like a tempest-laden cloud;
Fierce and bloodshot are his glances,
As he answers thus the crowd: --

"She shall go, then! I'm no woman!
If you think so, take my head!"
And his voice, like thunder rolling,
Over banks and billows sped.

Trembling, breathless, and in silence
Sits the princess, deadly pale,
Till her drunken Cossack lover
Drags her, helpless, to the rail.

"Volga," cried he, "dearest mother!
Volga, speeding thus away,
Hast thou e'er received a present
Like the one I give to-day?

"She must go; I'll have no discords
With my Cossacks, bold and free;
Volga, Volga, dearest mother,
Take the beauty! She's for thee!"

"Well, you devils, why so mournful?
Dance, you fools, and fill the bowl!
Let us shout a song of freedom
In remembrance of her soul!"

To the island's sheltered harbor,
From the river's broadening stream,
Came again the painted galleys,
Like the pageant of a dream.





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