Ye dead and gone great armies of the world, Sweet gleam the fields where ye were used to pass, With Death for leader, legioned like the grass, Day after day by dews of morning pearled. Ye dead and gone great armies, ye were hurled 'Gainst other armies, great and dead and gone, In awful dark: ye died before the dawn, Ne'er knowing how your flags in peace are furled! Ye are the tall fair forests that were felled To build a pyre for strife that it might cease; Ye are the white lambs slaughtered to bring peace; Ye are the sweet ships sunk that storm be quelled; And ye are lilies plucked and set like stars About the blood-stained shrine of bygone wars! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO MY MYRTLE [MIRTLE] by WILLIAM BLAKE VISIONS: 5 by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) OUR GOOD PRESIDENT by PHOEBE CARY MAUBERLEY: 5. MEDALLION by EZRA POUND TO IRELAND IN THE COMING TIMES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 6. OF PATIENCE by WILLIAM BASSE |