On a Theme in the Greek Anthology

Alan Seeger 1888 (New York City) – 1916



Thy petals yet are closely curled,
Rose of the world,
Around their scented, golden core;
Nor yet has Summer purpled o'er
Thy tender clusters that begin
To swell within
The dewy vine-leaves' early screen
Of sheltering green.

O hearts that are Love's helpless prey,
While yet you may,
Fly, ere the shaft is on the string!
The fire that now is smouldering
Shall be the conflagration soon
Whose paths are strewn
With torment of blanched lips and eyes
That agonize.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

25 sec read
371

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAXXBBCC DDEEFFGG
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 468
Words 82
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 8

Alan Seeger

Alan Seeger was an American poet who fought and died in World War I during the Battle of the Somme serving in the French Foreign Legion. more…

All Alan Seeger poems | Alan Seeger Books

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    "On a Theme in the Greek Anthology" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/309/on-a-theme-in-the-greek-anthology>.

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