Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TWO POEMS FROM THE WAR: 1 by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH

Poet Analysis

First Line: OH, NOT THE LOSS OF THE ACCOMPLISHED THING!
Last Line: ALL-POSSIBLE IRRADIANCE OF DAWN.
Subject(s): WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;
Oh, not the loss of the accomplished thing!
Not dumb farewells, nor long relinquishment
Of beauty had, and golden summer spent,
And savage glory of the fluttering
Torn banners of the rain, and frosty ring
Of moon-white winters, and the imminent
Long-lunging seas, and the glowing shoulders bent
To race on some smooth beach the sea-gull's wing:

Not these, nor all we've been, nor all we've loved,
The pitiful familiar names, had moved
Our hearts to weep for them; but oh, the star
The future is! Eternity's too wan
To give again that undefeated, far,
All-possible irradiance of dawn.



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