In skies washed over with bright amethyst The moon rides keen and golden and the dale At other hours so pastoral and pale, On Sedan's anniversary is kissed By a low mystery of moon-drenched mist That is far lovelier than in any tale Read of in Arthur's day. Now not a sail Doth in the motions of the sea enlist! The darkling down and the deserted sea Shut out my birth-land. Yet, an ageing man, I hear the cannon of long-past Sedan, And, O my France, fighting like serpent curled, Wonder what Fate is now in store for thee, For England, and for man, and for the World! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NOEL: CHRISTMAS EVE, 1913 by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE PAUPER'S DEATH-BED by CAROLINE ANNE BOWLES SOUTHEY THE EVENING CLOUD by JOHN WILSON (1785-1854) UPON THE LATE LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT OF FIRE ... by JOHN ALLISON (1645-1683) BURY HIM DEEP by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE STUDY by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |