Author: Gilbert Keith Chesterton

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    Lift up your heads: in life, in death,
    God knoweth his head was high.
    Quit we the coward's broken breath
    Who watched a strong man die.

    If we must say, 'No more his peer
    Cometh; the flag is furled.'
    Stand not too near him, lest he hear
    That slander on the world.

    The good green earth he loved and trod
    Is still, with many a scar,
    Writ in the chronicles of God,
    A giant-bearing star.

    He fell: but Britain's banner swings
    Above his sunken crown.
    Black death shall have his toll of kings
    Before that cross goes down.

    Once more shall move with mighty things
    His house of ancient tale,
    Where kings whose hands were kissed of kings
    Went in: and came out pale.

    O young ones of a darker day,
    In art's wan colours clad,
    Whose very love and hate are grey--
    Whose very sin is sad.

    Pass on: one agony long-drawn
    Was merrier than your mirth,
    When hand-in-hand came death and dawn,
    And spring was on the earth.

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Type of Poem: Elegy

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a profound exploration of the themes of death, legacy, and the passing of grandeur. It opens with a call to courage and acceptance of the inevitable demise of a strong and revered figure – perhaps a leader or a king. The tone is solemn, yet dignified, reflecting respect for the deceased and an insistence on honoring his legacy rather than mourning his departure.

The poem's structure and rhyme scheme lend a rhythmic, almost hymn-like quality to the piece, underscoring its solemn theme. Noteworthy is the use of imagery and metaphor, particularly in the depiction of the "good green earth" as "a giant-bearing star" and the personification of "Black death", which strengthens the sense of conflict and loss.

The latter part of the poem shifts its focus to the future generations, described as "young ones of a darker day", clad in "art's wan colours." This shift signals a lament for the perceived loss of vibrancy and passion in the generations to come, their love, hate, and even sin depicted as grey and sad. The final lines juxtapose the "agony long-drawn" of the past - a time of kings and grandeur - with the mirth of the present era, suggesting that even in its suffering, the past held a certain majesty and vitality that the present lacks.

Overall, the poem is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the inevitability of death, and the changing nature of society, offering a sobering perspective on the loss of past grandeur and the uncertain heritage of future generations.