Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE PORTENT by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: HANGING FROM THE BEAM
Last Line: THE METEOR OF THE WAR.
Subject(s): ABOLITIONISTS; AMERICAN CIVIL WAR; BROWN, JOHN (1800-1859); SLAVERY; SOCIAL PROTEST; UNITED STATES - HISTORY; ANTI-SLAVERY; SERFS;

Hanging from the beam,
Slowly swaying (such the law),
Gaunt the shadow on your green,
Shenandoah!
The cut is on the crown
(Lo, John Brown),
And the stabs shall heal no more.

Hidden in the cap
Is the anguish none can draw;
So your future veils its face,
Shenandoah!
But the streaming beard is shown
(Weird John Brown),
The meteor of the war.




Home: PoetryExplorer.net