A little bit of Culture...  Poetry from soc.culture.irish

Poetry Worldwide  (all else....)

Posted by helena kim
on:    18 April 1999

more lyrical appropriateness for sci. enjoy :)

'Down, Wanton, Down!'
Robert Graves

 

Robert Graves - Complete Poems
ed., Beryl Graves & Dunstan Ward
Concord: Paul & Co. Publishers, 1998

Down, wanton, down! Have you no shame
That at the whisper of Love's name,
Or Beauty's, presto! up you raise
Your angry head and stand at gaze?

Poor bombard-captain, sworn to reach
The ravelin and effect a breach--
Indifferent what you storm or why,
So be that in the breach you die!

Love may be blind, but Love at least
Knows what is man and what mere beast;
Or Beauty wayward, but requires
More delicacy from her squires.

Tell me, my witless, whose one boast
Could be your staunchness at the post,
When were you made a man of parts
To think fine and profess the arts?

Will many-gifted Beauty come
Bowing to your bald rule of thumb,
Or Love swear loyalty to your crown?
Be gone, have done! Down, wanton, down!


--- The End ---

Questions? Comments? -K. E. Dennis

Poetry Worldwide  (all else....)

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