|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE AT BALACLAVA: PROLOGUE, by ALFRED TENNYSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Our birches yellowing and from each Last Line: Paled, and the glory grew. Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron Subject(s): Crimean War (1853-1856); Hamley, Sir Edward Bruce (1824-1893); Soldiers | |||
OUR birches yellowing and from each The light leaf falling fast, While squirrels from our fiery beech Were bearing off the mast, You came, and look'd and loved the view Long-known and loved by me, Green Sussex fading into blue With one gray glimpse of sea; And, gazing from this height alone, We spoke of what had been Most marvellous in the wars your own Crimean eyes had seen; And now -- like old-world inns that take Some warrior for a sign That therewithin a guest may make True cheer with honest wine -- Because you heard the lines I read Nor utter'd word of blame, I dare without your leave to head These rhymings with your name, Who know you but as one of those I fain would meet again, Yet know you, as your England knows That you and all your men Were soldiers to her heart's desire, When, in the vanish'd year, You saw the league-long rampart-fire Flare from Tel-el-Kebir Thro' darkness, and the foe was driven, And Wolseley overthrew Arabi, and the stars in heaven Paled, and the glory grew. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL ARMIES ARE THE SAME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY ABSENT WITH OFFICIAL LEAVE by RANDALL JARRELL PORT OF EMBARKATION by RANDALL JARRELL THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON OPERATION MEMORY by DAVID LEHMAN A CHARACTER by ALFRED TENNYSON |
| |