O VANISHED morn of crimson and of gold, O youth and roselight and romance, wherein I read of paynim and of paladin, And Beauty snatched from ogre's dungeoned hold! Ever the recreant, then, in dust was rolled, Ever the true knight in the joust did win, Ever the scaly shape of monstrous Sin At last lay vanquished, fold on writhing fold. Was it all false, that world of princely deeds, The splendid quest, the good fight ringing clear? Yonder the Dragon ramps with fiery gorge, Yonder the victim faints and gasps and bleeds; But in his merry England our St. George Sleeps a dull sleep, beside his idle spear. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMASSE EVE by ROBERT HERRICK GOD'S GRANDEUR by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE FOLLY OF BEING COMFORTED by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE IVY; ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG FRIEND by BERNARD BARTON VERSES TO SOME FRIENDS RETURNING FROM THE SEA-SIDE by BERNARD BARTON MY UPPER SHELVES by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |