I Hear An Army Charging Upon The Land Poem by James Joyce

I Hear An Army Charging Upon The Land

Rating: 3.7


I hear an army charging upon the land,
And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armour, behind them stand,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.

They cry unto the night their battle-name:
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame,
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.

They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
James Niles 08 August 2007

I do love James Joyce, though I do confess to puzzlement at his prose and pleasure at the irony of his poetry's utter clarity.

11 4 Reply
Kay Martinez 30 June 2009

Incredibly powerful poem-it clangs upon the heart.

9 3 Reply
Gangadharan Nair Pulingat 21 November 2014

This is not only a poem but also a great work of freedom of thought in which james joyce stood for individual freedom always makes his opinion against war the real war that destructs the humanlife.

2 4 Reply
Leslie Sharp 31 October 2014

War a ugly thing being it is of the earthly or of the soul. Hatred core of all evil.

3 2 Reply
Babatunde Aremu 21 November 2014

A great poem. The whole world has been under jackboots leaving behind 'sorrows and tears' (a la Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the great Nigerian musician)

2 2 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 22 February 2024

SIX: he masterfully captures the raw vulnerability of the human heart through his powerful poetry Truly breathtaking!

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 22 February 2024

FIVE: Through vivid and surreal imagery, the poet conveys the overwhelming impact of lost love and the lingering echoes of heartache. The poem's evocative language and dreamlike quality invite readers to explore the depths of emotional turmoil and the haunting persistence of lost love.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 22 February 2024

FOUR: The central theme of the poem revolves around the pain of heartbreak, capturing the intensity of emotional suffering and the haunting persistence of memories.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 22 February 2024

THREE: This army symbolizes a nightmarish onslaught of negative and painful emotions brought on by heartbreak. The thundering horses, arrogant charioteers, and whirling laughter all contribute to the sense of turmoil and despair.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 22 February 2024

TWO: It describes an invasion by a frightening army of ghoulish, green-haired soldiers riding in horse-drawn chariots. The imagery is vivid and unsettling. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that the speaker is dreaming.

0 0 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
James Joyce

James Joyce

Dublin / Ireland
Close
Error Success