I Hear an Army

James Joyce

1882 to 1941

Poem Image
Track 1

Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.

Easy Mode - Auto check enabled
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.
And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?
They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
Arrogant, in black armour, behind them stand,
I hear an army charging upon the land,
They cry unto the night their battle-name:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.