A Sonnet of Battle

William Gay 1865 (Scotland) – 1897



RELUCTANT Morn, whose meagre radiance lies  
 With doubtful glimmer on the farthest hills,  
 How long shall men, reiterant of their ills,  
With peevish invocation bid thee rise  
To burn to noontide glory in the skies          
 That now a gloom perplexed and starless fills,  
 And seek from thee and not their own strong wills  
That perfect good which is not bought with sighs?  
Why weep and wait for thee, though laggard, Morn,  
 With all thy joys of love and peace and light?          
For us the mightier joy that rives the soul,  
When, slaves no longer to a day unborn,  
Our flag of war along the dark we unroll  
 For fell encounter with the hosts of Night.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
98

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDECED
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 666
Words 117
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

William Gay

William Gay (2 May 1865 – 22 December 1897) was a Scottish-born Australian poet. more…

All William Gay poems | William Gay Books

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