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THE GUEST OF PHINEUS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Man hungers long. Into his cup is poured
Last Line: To whirlwind ruin o'er the ionian main!
Subject(s): Faith; Belief; Creed


Man hungers long. Into his cup is poured
Wine of pearled brilliance or of flaming dyes
From gold and silvern ewers of the skies --
The sun and moon. And on his banquet-board
Rich lands of romance, glamorous seas, afford
His vision viands. Yet with upturned eyes
Like to poor Phineus, he still descries
The shadows overhead, the birds abhorred.

Ye dark enigmas of this universe,
Cloud not my feast! God, give me thoughts to face
And rend despair, as did the winged twain
Who soared above the baffled guests of Thrace
And hurled the harpies of Jove's ancient curse
To whirlwind ruin o'er the Ionian main!





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