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 | Collected poems |  |
VILLANELLE OF CHANGE
Since Persia fell at Marathon,
The yellow years have gathered fast:
Long centuries have come and gone.
The yellow years have gathered fast:
Long centuries have come and gone.
81
And yet (they say) the place will don
A phantom fury of the past,
Since Persia fell at Marathon;
A phantom fury of the past,
Since Persia fell at Marathon;
And as of old, when Helicon
Trembled and swayed with rapture vast
(Long centuries have come and gone),
Trembled and swayed with rapture vast
(Long centuries have come and gone),
This ancient plain, when night comes on,
Shakes to a ghostly battle-blast,
Since Persia fell at Marathon.
Shakes to a ghostly battle-blast,
Since Persia fell at Marathon.
But into soundless Acheron
The glory of Greek shame was cast:
Long centuries have come and gone,
The glory of Greek shame was cast:
Long centuries have come and gone,
The suns of Hellas have all shone,
The first has fallen to the last:—
Since Persia fell at Marathon,
Long centuries have come and gone.
The first has fallen to the last:—
Since Persia fell at Marathon,
Long centuries have come and gone.
| Collected poems | |