Fairies and Fusiliers by Robert Ranke Graves
page 47 of 59 (79%)
page 47 of 59 (79%)
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This Summer, and I'm nine parts dead."
_R_. "But if that's truly so," I cried, "quick, now, Through these great oaks and see the famous bough "Where once a nonsense built her nest With skulls and flowers and all things queer, In an old boot, with patient breast Hatching three eggs; and the next year ..." _S_. "Foaled thirteen squamous young beneath, and rid Wales of drink, melancholy, and psalms, she did." Said he, "Before this quaint mood fails, We'll sit and weave a nonsense hymn," _R_. "Hanging it up with monkey tails In a deep grove all hushed and dim...." _S_. "To glorious yellow-bunched banana-trees," _R_. "Planted in dreams by pious Portuguese," _S_. "Which men are wise beyond their time, And worship nonsense, no one more." _R_. "Hard by, among old quince and lime, They've built a temple with no floor," _S_. "And whosoever worships in that place, He disappears from sight and leaves no trace." _R_. "Once the Galatians built a fane To Sense: what duller God than that?" _S_. "But the first day of autumn rain The roof fell in and crushed them flat." _R_. "Ay, for a roof of subtlest logic falls |
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