We, too, had known golden hours <br />When body and soul were in tune, <br />Had danced with our true loves <br />By the light of a full moon, <br />And sat with the wise and good <br />As tongues grew witty and gay <br />Over some noble dish <br />Out of Escoffier; <br />Had felt the intrusive glory <br />Which tears reserve apart, <br />And would in the old grand manner <br />Have sung from a resonant heart. <br />But, pawed-at and gossiped-over <br />By the promiscuous crowd, <br />Concocted by editors <br />Into spells to befuddle the crowd, <br />All words like Peace and Love, <br />All sane affirmative speech, <br />Had been soiled, profaned, debased <br />To a horrid mechanical screech. <br />No civil style survived <br />That pandaemonioum <br />But the wry, the sotto-voce, <br />Ironic and monochrome: <br />And where should we find shelter <br />For joy or mere content <br />When little was left standing <br />But the suburb of dissent?<br /><br />WH Auden<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-too-had-known-golden-hours-2/
