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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BARD OF LOVE, by ANACREON Poet's Biography First Line: I wish to tune my quivering lyre Last Line: In songs of bliss and sighs of flame. Alternate Author Name(s): Anakreon; Anacreontea Subject(s): Musical Instruments | |||
I WISH to tune my quivering lyre To deeds of fame and notes of fire; To echo, from its rising swell, How heroes fought and nations fell, When Atreus' sons advanced to war, Or Tyrian Cadmus roved afar; But still, to martial strains unknown, My lyre recurs to love alone. Fired with the hope of future fame, I seek some nobler hero's name; The dying chords are strung anew, To war, to war, my harp is due. With glowing strings, the epic strain To Jove's great son I raise again; Alcides and his glorious deeds, Beneath whose arm the Hydra bleeds. All, all in vain; my wayward lyre Wakes silver notes of soft desire. Adieu ye chiefs renown'd in arms! Adieu the clang of war's alarms! To other deeds my soul is strung, And sweeter notes shall now be sung; My harp shall all its powers reveal, To tell the tale my heart must feel; Love, Love alone, my lyre shall claim, In songs of bliss and sighs of flame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DRUMS AND BRASS by DONALD (GRADY) DAVIDSON ONE AND ONE by CECIL DAY LEWIS VISITING SUNDAY: CONVENT NOVITIATE by MADELINE DEFREES SEVERAL MEASURES FOR THE LITTLE LOST by NORMAN DUBIE NEAR MISS HAIKU by ANSELM HOLLO THE PLAYER PIANO by RANDALL JARRELL A BANJO SONG by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |
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