And, the Last Day Being Come, Man Stood Alone
And, the Last Day Being Come, Man Stood Alone
Original Text
The Poems of Trumbull Stickney, ed. George Cabot Lodge, William Vaughn Moody, and John Ellerton Lodge (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, 1905): 175 (no. IX of "Later Lyrics"). PS 3537 T525 1905 Robarts Library.
1And, the last day being come, Man stood alone
2Ere sunrise on the world's dismantled verge,
3Awaiting how from everywhere should urge
4The Coming of the Lord. And, behold, none
5Did come, -- but indistinct from every realm
6Of earth and air and water, growing more
7And louder, shriller, heavier, a roar
8Up the dun atmosphere did overwhelm
9His ears; and as he looked affrighted round
10Every manner of beast innumerable
11All thro' the shadows crying grew, until
13Asudden then within his human side
14Their anguish, since the goad he wielded first,
16Darted compressed and vital. -- As he died,
17Low in the East now lighting gorgeously
19Which, with a spear transfixèd, yet availed
20To pluck the sun down into the dead sea.
Notes
12] "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." (Rev. 1.7) Back to Line
15] "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Rev. 21.6) Back to Line
18] Recalling the legend of St. and the dragon, symbolizing the devil. See also Rev. 12.3, 20.2-3. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1905
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.
Rhyme