Hohenlinden Poem by Thomas Campbell

Hohenlinden

Rating: 3.0


1 On Linden, when the sun was low,
2 All bloodless lay the untrodden snow,
3 And dark as winter was the flow
4 Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

5 But Linden saw another sight
6 When the drum beat at dead of night,
7 Commanding fires of death to light
8 The darkness of her scenery.

9 By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
10 Each horseman drew his battle blade,
11 And furious every charger neighed
12 To join the dreadful revelry.

13 Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
14 Then rushed the steed to battle driven,
15 And louder than the bolts of heaven
16 Far flashed the red artillery.

17 But redder yet that light shall glow
18 On Linden's hills of stainèd snow,
19 And bloodier yet the torrent flow
20 Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

21 'Tis morn, but scarce yon level sun
22 Can pierce the war clouds, rolling dun,
23 Where furious Frank and fiery Hun
24 Shout in their sulphurous canopy.

25 The combat deepens. On, ye brave,
26 Who rush to glory, or the grave!
27 Wave, Munich! all thy banners wave,
28 And charge with all thy chivalry!

29 Few, few shall part where many meet!
30 The snow shall be their winding-sheet,
31 And every turf beneath their feet
32 Shall be a soldier's sepulchre.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 24 February 2016

The rhythm of this poem pounded like a war horse's hooves- carrying us inexorably forward to the battlefield - this poem exemplifies the enhancing properties of rhythm. A great piece of literature in my humble opinion.

27 0 Reply
Abhranil Roy 04 February 2018

Heart renting one truly inexplicable byme

0 1 Reply
Prabir Gayen 14 December 2018

War prom of spontaneous ecstasy.......

0 0 Reply
Donald Fernandes 17 November 2017

Wonderful poem, in a few stanzas Thomas Campbell has described the horror and glory of war.

0 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 14 December 2018

A marvelous write by Thomas Campbell👍👍

1 0 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 14 December 2018

'17 But redder yet that light shall glow 18 On Linden's hills of stainèd snow, 19 And bloodier yet the torrent flow 20 Of Iser, rolling rapidly.' - Wonderful! Verses 29-32 are appropriate as the finishing lines of this war poem.

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Edward Kofi Louis 14 December 2018

That light shall Glow! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

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A very good poem, I feel, on war and its dreadfulness

0 0 Reply
Adrian Flett 14 December 2018

A modern poem 1844? ? ? The last stanza is great, 'few shall part where many meet'

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Thomas Campbell

Thomas Campbell

Glasgow / Scotland
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