Orpheus, Once Torn Limb from Sturdy Limb
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
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Orphée by Raoul Dufy
Long after he was born, and lived, and died,
The first of poets lives and lives. Before
The rape of art by Modernism tried
To kill off commonsense, an artist bore
Down on a piece of wood to make this strong
Depiction of the poet’s presence still
In culture, much around us. During long
Millennia he holds a lyre. Until
Our kind are dead, more dead than he has been
For many centuries, Orpheus will shine.
In this depiction even each bold shin
And calf shows he himself is still the shrine
For verse and emblematic for all art.
In death he is the living set apart.