Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A YOUNG POET by ANNA BUNSTON DE BARY

First Line: GO, LIKE HIPPOLYTUS, TO WIN THEE BAYS
Last Line: WITH ALL HER SULLEN, UNRELENTING WAVES.
Subject(s): MYTHOLOGY - GREEK; POETRY & POETS;
GO, like Hippolytus, to win thee bays
In the Athenian games. Go, gather fame
To splendid youth and beauty and the praise
Of exile proudly borne, and make thy name
Beloved of Artemis. Yet wear renown
As one who needs it not, since that bright head
The dignity of death too soon shall crown,
And all thy comely locks be smeared with red.
Or spread, Daedalian boy, thy pinions fair,
And mount above our landmarks one by one;
But let thy proud wings court the middle air,
And never flaunt them near the jealous sun.

Alas! I see white limbs that ocean laves
With all her sullen, unrelenting waves.



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