THE glowing pageant of my story lies, A shaft of light, across the stormy years, When, 'mid the agony of blood and tears, Or pope or kaiser won the mournful prize, Till I, the fearless child of ocean, heard The step of doom, and trembling to my fall, Remorseful knew that I had seen unstirred Proud Freedom's death, the tyrant's festival; Whilst that Italia which was yet to be, And is, and shall be, sat, a virgin pure, High over Umbria on the mountain slopes, And saw the failing fires of liberty Fade on the chosen shrine she deemed secure, When died for many a year man's noblest hopes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRAYERS by HENRY CHARLES BEECHING OLNEY HYMNS: 9. THE CONTRITE HEART by WILLIAM COWPER ALONE (2) by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THIS SUMMER AND LAST by THOMAS HARDY SEVEN TIMES SIX [ - GIVING IN MARRIAGE] by JEAN INGELOW TASTING THE EARTH by JAMES OPPENHEIM |