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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COLOGNE; EPIGRAM by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Poet Analysis

First Line: IN KOLN, A TOWN OF MONKS AND BONES
Last Line: SHALL HENCEFORTH WASH THE RIVER RHINE?
Subject(s): COLOGNE, GERMANY; HATE; SMELLS; ODORS; AROMAS; FRAGRANCES;
IN Koln, a town of monks and bones,
And pavements fanged with murderous stones,
And rags, and hags, and hideous wenches, --
I counted two-and-seventy stenches,
All well-defined and several stinks!
Ye nymphs that reign o'er sewers and sinks,
The river Rhine, it is well known,
Doth wash your city of Cologne;
But tell me, nymphs! what power divine
Shall henceforth wash the river Rhine?


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