People Have Always Been Pathetic
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
On altars made of turf there lies at rest
The aster amellus * in rings. The fall
Photo by Franz Xaver
In fullness of its fruits and grains was best
For worshiping divinity. The sprawl
Of plenteousness was what the pagans thanked
The gods for in the countryside of farms
And vineyards. Such Romans, ranked
Below their urban betters, used these charms
To win Olympus to their needs through praise
And little purple clusters with each dot
Of yellow to imply the autumn rays
Of sunshine from above. The gods forgot
The rural people if they did not bring
These little gifts tied up with straw-made string.
* Michaelmas daisies