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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
APATHY, by PAUL VERLAINE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: I am the empire at the end of its decadence
Last Line: Nothing but a nameless boredom to afflict you.
Subject(s): Apathy; France
First Line: I am the empire at the end of its decadence
Last Line: Nothing but a nameless boredom to afflict you.
Subject(s): Apathy; France
I am the Empire at the end of its decadence
Watching the tall, fair Barbarians pass,
Meanwhile, I compose idle acrostics
In a golden style where the sun's languors dance.
Intense boredom sickens a soul alone.
Over there, I hear, a long bloody battle rages.
Feeble with too slow desire, there is no power,
There is no will to make this existence flower.
There is no will, no power even to die a little.
Ah, all is drunk, Bathyllus-do you laugh still?
All, all is drunk, all eaten! No more to tell.
Nothing but a stupid poem to throw on the fire,
Nothing but a faithless slave to neglect you,
Nothing but a nameless boredom to afflict you.
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LE PERE-LACHAISE by CAROL ANN DUFFY
ON TALK OF PEACE AT THIS TIME by ROBERT FROST
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