For A Column At Runnymede Poem by Mark Akenside

For A Column At Runnymede

Rating: 3.1


Thou, who the verdant plain dost traverse here
While Thames among his willows from thy view
Retires; O stranger, stay thee, and the scene
Around contemplate well. This is the place
Where England's ancient barons, clad in arms
And stern with conquest, from their tyrant king
(Then rendered tame) did challenge and secure
The charter of thy freedom. Pass not on
Till thou hast blest their memory, and paid
Those thanks which God appointed the reward
Of public virtue. And if chance thy home
Salute thee with a father's honour'd name,
Go, call thy sons: instruct them what a debt
They owe their ancestors; and make them swear
To pay it, by transmitting down entire
Those sacred rights to which themselves were born.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 31 October 2015

A very nationalistic poem starting with its setting. Runnyemede is the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. This document reined in the King's power and began giving legal rights to the nobles who had fought for the king and funded him. The poem left no doubt that Akenside was into the concepts of liberty and the rights of the people. Akenside bolsters the nationalistic theme of this poem by saying that God chooses to reward those serve their country. In the final lines of the poem, Akenside says that present day Englishmen should continue the fight of their ancestors and honor the rights their ancestors earned by using them.

28 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 08 March 2019

A noble poem by Mark Akenside.........

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Dr Antony Theodore 08 March 2019

very good poem O stranger, stay thee, and the scene Around contemplate well.. thank u. tony

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Edward Kofi Louis 08 March 2019

'O stranger'! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

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Chinedu Dike 28 September 2022

A beautifull, patriotic rendition insightfully crafted with conviction.

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dsfsd 26 September 2022

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M Asim Nehal 08 March 2019

A wonderful poem, I quote my fav lines: Till thou hast blest their memory, and paid Those thanks which God appointed the reward Of public virtue.

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Khairul Ahsan 08 March 2019

'Go, call thy sons: instruct them what a debt They owe their ancestors; and make them swear To pay it, by transmitting down entire Those sacred rights to which themselves were born.' - I subscribe to this clarion call. Thanks to poet Susan Williams for the explanation she has provided in her comment for our easy understanding.

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Baquee Billah Ahmed 08 March 2019

Good poem..................Nice

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