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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GREEK BANISHED FROM THE SCHOOLS by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: CALM SPEECH OF SOPHOCLES, ETHEREAL CLEAR
Last Line: THROUGH DOG'S-EARED PAGES ON A HOPELESS QUEST.
Subject(s): GREEK LANGUAGE; SCHOOLS; STUDENTS;
Calm speech of Sophocles, ethereal clear;
Voice of Euripides, all human warm;
Thunder of AEschylus amid the storm;
And Pindar, herald of the starry sphere!
Yes, and Demosthenes, superb, austere;
And Plato, loftiest thought in perfect form;
And Lucian, where the wings of fancy swarm;
And Aristophanes, to laughter dear!
Ah, Homer, master of the ringing lyre,
And quaint Herodotus, and all the rest,
My kindly lords! 'Tis well your living fire
Is banished to the hearts that love it best,
And stupid callous thumbs no longer tire
Through dog's-eared pages on a hopeless quest.



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