Since Persia fell at Marathon, <br />The yellow years have gathered fast: <br />Long centuries have come and gone. <br /> <br />And yet (they say) the place will don <br />A phantom fury of the past, <br />Since Persia fell at Marathon; <br /> <br />And as of old, when Helicon <br />Trembled and swayed with rapture vast <br />(Long centuries have come and gone), <br /> <br />This ancient plain, when night comes on, <br />Shakes to a ghostly battle-blast, <br />Since Persia fell at Marathon. <br /> <br />But into soundless Acheron <br />The glory of Greek shame was cast: <br />Long centuries have come and gone, <br /> <br />The suns of Hellas have all shone, <br />The first has fallen to the last: -- <br />Since Persia fell at Marathon, <br />Long centuries have come and gone.<br /><br />Edwin Arlington Robinson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/villanelle-of-change/
