Famous Despotic Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Despotic poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous despotic poems. These examples illustrate what a famous despotic poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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Canzone IX

...impart,No other thought of feeling may remainWhere you, with Love himself, despotic reign. All sweet emotions e'erBy happy lovers felt in every clime,Together all, may not with mine compare,When, as from time to time,I catch from that dark radiance rich and deepA ray in which, d...Read more of this...
by Petrarch, Francesco


Ode to Despair

...each procrastinated hour 
The woe-worn suff'rer gasping lay, 
While by his side in proud array 
Stalk'd the HUGE FIEND, DESPOTIC POW'R. 
There REASON clos'd her radiant eye, 
And fainting HOPE retir'd to die, 
Truth shrunk appall'd, 
In spells of icy Apathy enthrall'd; 
Till FREEDOM spurn'd the ignominious chain, 
And roused from Superstition's night, 
Exulting Nature claim'd her right, 
And call'd dire Vengeance from her dark domain. 

Now take thy solitary flight 
Amid the ...Read more of this...
by Robinson, Mary Darby

Ode to Melancholy

...e Cave profound! 
Hence, with thy pale, and meagre train, 
Nor dare my roseate bow'r profane, 
Where light-heel'd mirth despotic reigns, 
Slightly bound in feath'ry chains, 
And scatt'ring blisses round. 

Hence, to thy native Chaos­where
Nurs'd by thy haggard Dam, DESPAIR, 
Shackled by thy numbing spell, 
Mis'ry's pallid children dwell; 
Where, brooding o'er thy fatal charms, 
FRENZY rolls the vacant eye; 
Where hopeless LOVE, with folded arms, 
Drops the tear, and heaves th...Read more of this...
by Robinson, Mary Darby

Palm Trees by the Sea

...Oars laid aside.

   She is awake and knows no rest,
   Passion dies and is dispossessed
          Of his brief, despotic power.
   But the Brain, once kindled, would still be afire
   Were the whole world pasture to its desire,
   And all of love, in a single hour,—
   A single wine cup, filled to the brim,
                              Given to slake its thirst.

   Some there are who are thus-wise cursed
         Times that follow fulfilled desire
         ...Read more of this...
by Nicolson, Adela Florence Cory

Samson Agonistes

...
And all temptation can remove,
Most shines and most is acceptable above.
Therefore Gods universal Law
Gave to the man despotic power
Over his female in due awe,
Nor from that right to part an hour,
Smile she or lowre:
So shall he least confusion draw
On his whole life, not sway'd
By female usurpation, nor dismay'd. 
But had we best retire, I see a storm?

Sam: Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain.

Chor: But this another kind of tempest brings.

Sam: Be less abstruse...Read more of this...
by Milton, John


Song of Man XXV

...he antiquity of Arabia; 
I heard all that can be heard. 
Yet, my heart is deaf and blind. 


I suffered at the hands of despotic rulers; 
I suffered slavery under insane invaders; 
I suffered hunger imposed by tyranny; 
Yet, I still possess some inner power 
With which I struggle to great each day. 


My mind is filled, but my heart is empty; 
My body is old, but my heart is an infant. 
Perhaps in youth my heart will grow, but I 
Pray to grow old and reach the moment of 
My r...Read more of this...
by Gibran, Kahlil

The Coliseum

...from all Ruin, unto the wise, 
As melody from Memnon to the Sun. 
We rule the hearts of mightiest men- we rule 
With a despotic sway all giant minds. 
We are not impotent- we pallid stones. 
Not all our power is gone- not all our fame- 
Not all the magic of our high renown- 
Not all the wonder that encircles us- 
Not all the mysteries that in us lie- 
Not all the memories that hang upon 
And cling around about us as a garment, 
Clothing us in a robe of more than glory."...Read more of this...
by Poe, Edgar Allan

The Republican Genius of Europe

...ers and kings! in vain you strive
Your torments to conceal--
The age is come that shakes your thrones,
Tramples in dust despotic crowns,
And bids the sceptre fail.

In western worlds the flame began:
From thence to France it flew--
Through Europe, now, it takes its way,
Beams an insufferable day,
And lays all tyrants low.

Genius fo France! pursue the chace
Till Reason's laws restore
Man to be Man, in every clime;--
That Being, active, great, sublime
Debas'd in dust no more.
...Read more of this...
by Freneau, Philip

The Triumph Of Time

...SPAN>And wealth, and power, and honour, strive in vainTo 'scape the laws of Time's despotic reign.Though still to vulgar eyes they seem to claimA lot conspicuous in the lists of Fame,Transient as human joys; to feeble ageThey love to linger on this earthly stage,And think it cruel to be call'd awayOn the faint...Read more of this...
by Petrarch, Francesco

To Rinaldo

...ES, I will lead thee to some rock, 
Whose frowns the dashing billows mock; 
While the fierce LORD OF LIGHT shall reign 
DESPOTIC o'er th' ethereal plain.­ 
Or when his fiery coursers fly 
On red wings down the Western sky; 
While Ocean's curling waves unfold, 
In one vast sheet of liquid gold; 
Then shalt thou mark CREATION'S pride 
In slow and trembling tints subside, 
'Till darkness stealing o'er the globe, 
Unfurls its sable spangled robe. 
Then shall thy conscious feeling...Read more of this...
by Robinson, Mary Darby

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