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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AN ODE TO MUSIC: 10 by JAMES GATES PERCIVAL

First Line: THE RAGE OF PINDAR FILLED THE SOUNDING AIR
Last Line: THE DEMON SHOOK HIS STEEL WITH WILD EXULTING YELL.
Subject(s): MUSIC & MUSICIANS;

The rage of Pindar filled the sounding air,
As Polyhymnia tried her skill divine;
The shaggy lion roused him from his lair,
And bade his blood-stained eyes in fury shine;
The famished eagle poised his waving wings,
Whetting his thirsty beak -- while murder rose,
With hand that grasps a dirk, with eye that glows
In gloomy madness o'er the throne of kings,
And, as she bade her tones of horror swell,
The demon shook his steel with wild exulting yell.



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