Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LECTURE, by EDWARD BLISS REED


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LECTURE, by                    
First Line: College de france, a dingy room
Last Line: He died, lost in the middle ages.
Subject(s): Lectures; Universities & Colleges; Wisdom; Addresses; Speaking; Public Speaking


Collége de France, a dingy room;
Bent o'er the desk, he turns his pages
Droning a lecture in the gloom
On "Beauty in the Middle Ages."

Outside, the world in May attire
Would make the dullest, calmest sages
Throw all their books into the fire—
Here's "Beauty in the Middle Ages."

First, he will take "a rapid view";
He ambles on in lengthy stages.
I might be walking at St. Cloud,
But—"Beauty in the Middle Ages."

Tonight the woods of Fontainebleau—
Another theme his mind engages,
Another point we all must know
Of "Beauty in the Middle Ages."

Out in the street I hear a song;
We sit mute, captive birds in cages.
Our life is short, the lecture's long.
O "Beauty in the Middle Ages."

Without, the sky with stars is sown.
Wisdom, is this your gift, your wages!
Poor man—his world a stick, a stone,
That's "Beauty in the Middle Ages."

Long years of study—this is all.
Anger, revolt within me rages.
"Le cinquième point"—I leave the hall.
He died, lost in the Middle Ages.





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