Classic Poem

Tell me, watcher, is it winter?
Say how long my sleep has been?
Have the woods I left so lovely
Lost their robes of tender green?

Is the morning slow in coming?
Is the night-time loath to go?
Tell me, are the dreary mountains
Drearier still with drifted snow?

" Captive, since thou sawest the forest,
All its leaves have died away,
And another March has woven
Garlands for another May.

" Ice has barred the Arctic water,*
Soft south winds have set it free;*
And once more to deep green valley
Golden flowers might welcome thee. "

Watcher, in this lonely prison,
Shut from joy and kindly air,
Heaven, descending in a vision,
Taught my soul to do and bear.

It was night, a night in winter;
I lay on the dungeon floor,
And all other sounds were silent —
All, except the river's roar.

Over Death and Desolation,
Fireless hearths and lifeless homes;
Over orphans' heart-sick sorrows,
Over fathers' bloody tombs;

Over friends, that my arms never
Might embrace in love again —
Memory pondered, until madness
Struck its poignard in my brain.*

Deepest slumber followed raving,*
Yet, methought, I brooded still;
Still I saw my country bleeding,
Dying for a Tyrant's will —

Not because my bliss was blasted,
Burned within, the avenging flame;
Not because my scattered kindred
Died in woe or lived in shame.

God doth know, I would have given
Every bosom dear to me,
Could that sacrifice have purchased
Tortured Gondal's liberty!

But, that at Ambition's bidding
All her cherished hopes should wane;
That her noblest sons should muster,
Strive and fight, and fall in vain —

Hut and castle, hall and cottage,
Roofless, crumbling to the ground —
Mighty Heaven, a glad Avenger
Thy eternal justice found!

Yes, the arm that once would shudder
Even to pierce a wounded deer,*
I beheld it, unrelenting,
Choke in blood it's sovereign's prayer.

Glorious dream! I saw the city
Blazing in imperial shine;
And among adoring thousands
Stood a man of form divine.

None need point the princely victim —
Now he smiles with royal pride!
Now his glance is bright as lightning;
Now — the knife is in his side!

Ha, I saw how death could darken —
Darken that triumphant eye!
His red heart's blood drenched my dagger;
My ear drank his dying sigh!

Shadows come! What means this midnight?
O my God, I know it all!
Know the fever-dream is over!
Unavenged the Avengers fall!