The Night There Was Dancing in the Streets
More paper blackened with more signatures;
Top-hats and handshakes, smiles of marble-toothed
diplomats,
Crowds, drums, flags, cannon, fireworks, torchlight
processions.
Truce, peace, alliance,
What matter, what matter? Close the windows, now,
Light the lamp, and read Thucydides
ELDER OLSON
Who knew that passion and character of a nation
Stemmed from far causes; poverty of the soil
Brought safety; safety, growth, eventual greatness;
Habit of growth, ambition; the quick Athenian
Was his own land's best harvest, and so flourished.
Conversely, now, richness of earth brought war,
Stunting increase, and the sullen Spartan
Sank man in soldier; the armor moulded the man.
Thus power and fear of power grew side by side,
Contrary blossoms out of contrary earths;
There lay the principles of war; meanwhile, let run,
Let rhetors roar and heralds strut, let town
Quibble with town; the tough root tums all axes,
The fruits of Necessity ripen in all weathers.
Structure
23 lines · 3 stanzas