Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary

Portrait of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Birds of Passage — The White Czar (1847)

The White Czar is Peter the Great. Batyushka, Father dear, and Gosudar, Sovereign, are titles the Russian people are fond of giving to the Czar in their popular songs.
Dost thou see on the rampart's height
That wreath of mist, in the light
Of the midnight moon? O, hist!
It is not a wreath of mist;
It is the Czar, the White Czar,
Batyushka! Gosudar!
He has heard, among the dead,
The artillery roll o'erhead;
The drums and the tramp of feet
Of his soldiery in the street;
He is awake! the White Czar,
Batyushka! Gosudar!
He has heard in the grave the cries
Of his people: "Awake! arise!"
Source: Wikisource

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature