Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STANZAS, by YANNIS PAPADIAMANTOPOULOS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STANZAS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Say not: life is one joyous festival
Last Line: By a young flower's loveliness.
Alternate Author Name(s): Moreas, Jean
Subject(s): Dreams; Hope; Life; Lips; Soul; Nightmares; Optimism


1

SAY not: Life is one joyous festival
And a base soul and foolish mind betray --
Nor yet, Black misery is its end and all,
Through courage flagging on an evil way.

Laugh as in Spring the boughs that shake and thrill,
Weep like the driven waves that shoreward stream,
Taste every pleasure, suffer every ill,
And say: 'Twas much, though but a shade and dream.

2

When the heaviness and void
Of all tragic life we find,
Then the stricken soul is cloyed
Even with tender things and kind.

But a mystic treasure's gleam
Flaming for a little while
Flashes forth as in a dream
And the pallid lips may smile.

And by hope is glorified
All our ancient, dull distress,
As a ragged hedgerow's side
By a young flower's loveliness.





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