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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WAR VERSE (1914) by EZRA POUND

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: O TWO-PENNY POETS, BE STILL--
Last Line: FROM LEMAN AND BRIALMONT.
Subject(s): WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;
O two-penny poets, be still! --
For you have nine years out of every ten
To go gunning for glory --
with pop-guns;
Be still, give the soldiers their turn,
And do not be trying to scrape your two-penny glory
From the ruins of Louvain,
And from the smouldering Liege,
From Leman and Brialmont.



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