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Collected poems of Herman Melville

Melville, Herman (1819-1891)

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BATTLE-PIECES
  
THE PORTENT
  
MISGIVINGS
  
THE CONFLICT OF CONVICTIONS
  
APATHY AND ENTHUSIASM
  
THE MARCH INTO VIRGINIA
  
LYON
  
BALL'S BLUFF
  
DUPONT'S ROUND FIGHT
  
THE STONE FLEET
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DONELSON
  
THE CUMBERLAND
  
IN THE TURRET
  
THE TEMERAIRE
  
A UTILITARIAN VIEW OF THE MONITOR'S FIGHT
  
SHILOH
  
THE BATTLE FOR THE MISSISSIPPI
  
MALVERN HILL
  
THE VICTOR OF ANTIETAM
  
BATTLE OF STONE RIVER, TENNESSEE
  
RUNNING THE BATTERIES
  
STONEWALL JACKSON
  
STONEWALL JACKSON
  
GETTYSBURG
  
THE HOUSE-TOP
  
LOOK-OUT MOUNTAIN
  
CHATTANOOGA
  
THE ARMIES OF THE WILDERNESS
(1863–4)
  
ON THE PHOTOGRAPH OF A CORPS COMMANDER
  
THE SWAMP ANGEL
  
THE BATTLE FOR THE BAY
  
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK
  
IN THE PRISON PEN
  
THE COLLEGE COLONEL
  
THE EAGLE OF THE BLUE
  
A DIRGE FOR McPHERSON
  
AT THE CANNON'S MOUTH
  
THE MARCH TO THE SEA
  
THE FRENZY IN THE WAKE
  
THE FALL OF RICHMOND
  
THE SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX
  
A CANTICLE:
  
THE MARTYR
  
“THE COMING STORM”
  
REBEL COLOR-BEARERS AT SHILOH
  
THE MUSTER
  
AURORA-BOREALIS
  
THE RELEASED REBEL PRISONER
  
A GRAVE NEAR PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA
  
“FORMERLY A SLAVE”
  
THE APPARITION
  
MAGNANIMITY BAFFLED
  
ON THE SLAIN COLLEGIANS
  
AMERICA
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VERSES INSCRIPTIVE AND MEMORIAL
  
ON THE HOME GUARDS
  
INSCRIPTION
  
THE FORTITUDE OF THE NORTH
  
ON THE MEN OF MAINE
  
AN EPITAPH
  
INSCRIPTION
  
THE MOUND BY THE LAKE
  
ON THE SLAIN AT CHICKAMAUGA
  
AN UNINSCRIBED MONUMENT
  
ON SHERMAN'S MEN
  
ON THE GRAVE OF A YOUNG CAVALRY OFFICER KILLED IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
  
A REQUIEM
  
ON A NATURAL MONUMENT
  
COMMEMORATIVE OF A NAVAL VICTORY
  
PRESENTATION TO THE AUTHORITIES
  
THE RETURNED VOLUNTEER TO HIS RIFLE
  
THE SCOUT TOWARD ALDIE
  
LEE IN THE CAPITOL
  
A MEDITATION
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JOHN MARR AND OTHER SAILORS
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TIMOLEON
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WEEDS AND WILDINGS WITH A ROSE OR TWO
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A ROSE OR TWO
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MARQUIS DE GRANDVIN
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
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UNPUBLISHED OR UNCOLLECTED POEMS
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POEMS FROM THE NOVELS

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THE AMBUSCADE

Meek crossing of the bosom's lawn
Averted revery veil-like drawn,
Well beseem thee, nor obtrude
The cloister of thy virginhood.
And yet, white nun, that seemly dress
Of purity pale passionless,
A May-snow is; for fleeting term,
Custodian of love's slumbering germ—
Nay, nurtures it, till time disclose
How frost fed Amor's burning rose.
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