High in the air exposed

Robert Southey 1774 (Bristol) – 1843 (London)



High in the air exposed the slave is hung,
To all the birds of heaven, their living food!
He groans not, though awaked by that fierce sun
New torturers live to drink their parent blood;
He groans not, though the gorging vulture tear
The quivering fiber. Hither look, O ye
Who tore this man from peace and liberty!
Look hither, ye who weigh with politic care
The gain against the guilt! Beyond the grave
There is another world: bear ye in mind,
Ere your decree proclaims to all mankind
The gain is worth the guilt, that there the Slave,
Before the Eternal, "thunder-tongued shall plead
Against the deep damnation of your deed.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
43

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDEFFEGHHGII
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 633
Words 114
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Robert Southey

Robert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and Poet Laureate for 30 years from 1813 to his death in 1843. more…

All Robert Southey poems | Robert Southey Books

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