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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A BITTER LOSS AND BARREN GAIN, by ELIZABETH GARBUTT First Line: Six hundred years have passed since bacon taught Last Line: Increased the sum of human misery. | |||
Six hundred years have passed since Bacon taught That some day man, through conquered air, would fly. Four centuries ago Da Vinci caught The gleam, and pictured ships to cleave the sky. Men's minds have soared, at oneness with the birds, These countless years, some heaven to attain; But in the end have found, O bitter words, In all the sky's immensity, no gain. While bombs are whining through the shattered sky No birds can sing. The shadow and the shroud Hang dark above the shambles of Shanghai Where pestilence came raining from a cloud. The dreamers of the past, unwittingly, Increased the sum of human misery. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: DAVIS MATLOCK by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TO A BLOCKHEAD by ALEXANDER POPE THE HOSTESS' DAUGHTER by JOHANN LUDWIG UHLAND A COMPARISON OF THE LIFE OF MAN by RICHARD BARNFIELD |
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