Analysis of The Crown Of Empire
George Essex Evans 1863 (London) – 1909 (Toowoomba)
Free is the wind that lashes into foam
The fortress waves that gird the Sea-King’s home
And free the war-worn Flag that is our fame
That fear, nor treason, nor the Storm-God’s might,
Nor the leagued banners of the World can shame
When Britain arms for Honour and the Right.
And free the hearts that on this golden day
Bear willing witness to the Sea-King’s sway:
From world-wide realms washed by the world-wide sea
They turn, O Throne of Freedom, unto Thee.
Homeward they turn from many a lonely place,
Maker of Nations, Mother of the Race,
Homeward to Thee, where, in this solemn hour
Of mightiest Empire, Thou hast called once more
A Royal Son to wield Imperial power
And wear the crown that Saxon Alfred wore—
Sceptre and orb that a great Queen laid down,
Lustrous with wisdom, foremost in renown,
Whilst o’er them shone, all glittering gems above,
The Star of Duty and the Pearl of Love.
Europe is here, and Asia: and the West
Lifts ’mid the throng its dauntless Eagle’s crest.
Lo! They are gathered—prince and peer and lord,
And great ambassadors of mighty States,
And utmost Nations—not with naked sword,
But to do Britain honour in her gates.
The splendour of this large, historic hour,
This dazzling pageant of Imperial power,
Surrounds a King whose proudest boast shall be
The hearts that hail him Emperor of the Free.
O Sire August, within these Abbey walls
To thee the sacred dust of Britain calls
To rule the realm that shook the strength of Spain,
And struck th’ accursèd fetter from the slave—
That tore from Europe’s neck the Despot’s chain,
And, for a pledge of Freedom, o’er the wave
Has set its Flag forever—not alone—
The fairest face that ever graced a throne,
Queen of our Hearts, is with Thee as we sing:—
“An Empire’s love is their’s: God Save the King!”
Unbar your ocean-guarded gates, make wide
Your streets, Imperial City of our Pride!
Hark, with the voice of millions, rolling deep,
The world salutes thee on this Royal morn.
Strong as thine island-rock when surges sweep
Thy throne stands steadfast; round it there is born
The silent vow that prince and peasant make
Ere they go down to death for Freedom’s sake,
And, dying, know sons of their sons will be
As swift to guard the Sceptre of the Sea.
O Pillars of an Empire dwarfing Rome,
From the four corners of the world you come.
The strong Sea-Lion calls around his throne
His ancient heirs, his war-worn younger sons.
Bring Heath and Vine from hills of Southern stone.
And Myrtle, where the twining rata runs,—
Wreaths from our Empire-Garden, where, between
The purple Thistle and the Shamrock green,
The snow-white Lotus by the Maple shows,
The yellow Wattle by the English Rose.
This is a Southern Song blown oversea
From mighty States now linked in unity,—
From that far island continent that lies
Gigantic on the waters, throned, apart,
Robed with the splendour of Australian skies—
First to draw sword, when, with a single heart,
From every frontier line of Empire rose
New Britains armed to meet Britannia’s foes,
Whose voices thunder, as the joy-bells ring
Loud from ten thousand spires: “God Save the King!”
Scheme | AABCBCDDEEFFGHGHIIJJ KKLMLMGGEE NNOPOPQQRR SSTUTUVVEE AXQWQWXXYY EEZ1 Z1 YYRR |
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Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1101110011 0101110111 01011111101 1111010111 1011010111 110111001 0101111101 1101010111 1111110111 1111110101 10111100101 1011010101 10111011010 110010011111 010111010010 0101110101 1001101111 101101001 11111100101 0111000111 1011010001 110111101 1111010101 0101001101 011011101 111101001 0111101010 1100101010010 0101110111 01111100101 11010011101 1101011101 1101110111 01111110101 11111011 0101110101 1111010101 0101110101 11101111111 11001111101 111010111 110100101101 1101110101 0101111101 1111011101 111111111 0101110101 1111111101 0101111111 1111010101 11011100101 1011010111 0111010111 1101111101 1101111101 0101010101 111010010101 010100011 0111010101 0101010101 110101101 1101110100 1111010011 0101010101 110110101 1111110101 110001111001 11011111 1101010111 1111011101 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 3,099 |
Words | 550 |
Sentences | 17 |
Stanzas | 6 |
Stanza Lengths | 20, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 |
Lines Amount | 70 |
Letters per line (avg) | 35 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 406 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 91 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 2:45 min read
- 106 Views
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"The Crown Of Empire" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/14975/the-crown-of-empire>.
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