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A Year After

By Algernon Charles Swinburne

Topics: classic

If blood throbs yet in this that was thy face,     O thou whose soul was full of devil's faith,     If in thy flesh the worm's bite slackeneth     In some acute red pause of iron days,     Arise now, gird thee, get thee on thy ways,     Breathe off the worm that crawls and fears not breath;     King, it may be thou shalt prevail on death;     King, it may be thy soul shall find out grace.     O spirit that hast eased the place of Cain,     Weep now and howl, yea weep now sore; for this     That was thy kingdom hath spat out its king.     Wilt thou plead now with God? behold again,     Thy prayer for thy son's sake is turned to a hiss,     Thy mouth to a snake's whose slime outlives the sting,

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"If blood throbs yet in this that was thy face,..."

This evocative piece by Algernon Charles Swinburne, titled "A Year After", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:Algernon Charles Swinburne

"If blood throbs yet in this that was thy face,..." by Algernon Charles Swinburne

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Algernon Charles Swinburne

About Algernon Charles Swinburne

Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) was an English poet known for metrical innovation and bold themes. His "Atalanta in Calydon" and "Poems and Ballads" challenged Victorian conventions with their musical intensity and controversial subject matter.

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