Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NIGHT-MARCH by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: WITH BANNERS FURLED, AND CLARIONS MUTE
Last Line: HIS MANDATE SENDS.
Subject(s): MARCHING & MARCHES;
With banners furled, and clarions mute,
An army passes in the night;
And beaming spears and helms salute
The dark with bright.

In silence deep the legions stream,
With open ranks, in order true;
Over boundless plains they stream and gleam --
No chief in view!

Afar, in twinkling distance lost,
(So legends tell) he lonely wends
And back through all that shining host
His mandate sends.



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