Living

Hasheen

by William Watson 1858–1935

From Ver Tenebrosum (1885)

Living

"Of British arms, another victory!"
Triumphant words, through all the land's length sped.
Triumphant words, but, being interpreted,
Words of ill sound, woful as words can be.
Another carnage by the drear Red Sea--
Another efflux of a sea more red!
Another bruising of the hapless head
Of a wrong'd people yearning to be free.
Another blot on her great name, who stands
Confounded, left intolerably alone
With the dilating spectre of her own
Dark sin, uprisen from yonder spectral sands:
Penitent more than to herself is known;
England, appall'd by her own crimson hands.

MLA

Watson, William. “Hasheen.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watson/47/.

Chicago

Watson, William. “Hasheen.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watson/47/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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