BALLAD TO THE POETS OF THE AGES by K. Kariotakis HATED BY MEN AND GODS ALIKE, LIKE NOBLEMEN WHO FELL, BITTER WITHER THE VERLAINS; THE WEALTH OF THEIR GOLDEN POETRY REMAINS. THE HUGOS WITH "PUNISHMENTS" THE OLYMPIANS' HORRID VENGEANCE CELEBRATE. BUT I WILL WRITE A DOLEFUL BALLAD TO THE POETS WHO FAMELESS REMAIN. IF THE POETS LIVED IN MISERY AND PAIN, AND THE BAUDELAIRES DISCOVERED WHEN DEAD, THEIR NAMES IN THE AGES REMAIN. BUT NO ONE WILL EVER REMEMBER, AND THICK THE OBSCURITY NOW COVERS, THE RHYMERS WHO WERE RHYMING IN VAIN. BUT I, LIKE HOLY MEMORIAL, OFFER THIS BALLAD TO THE POETS WHO FAMELESS REMAIN. THE EARTHLY REJECTION IS THEIR BURDEN, AND THEY WALK INFLEXIBLE AND PALE, IN THEIR GRANDIOSE ILLUSION TAKEN THAT GLORY IN THEIR FUTURE AWAITS, A MAIDEN SO THOUGHTFUL AND SO GAY. BUT KNOWING HOW ALL WILL FORGET THEM, NOSTALGICALLY I LAMENT THIS SAD BALLAD TO THE POETS WHO FAMELESS REMAIN. AND IN SOME DISTANT FUTURE TIME: " WHO WAS THIS UNKNOWN POET," WISH THEY SAY, "WHO WROTE SUCH A MEAGER BALLAD TO THE POETS WHO FAMELESS REMAIN?" Keep up the good work mates!!! Dimos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...................... HELEN: ............ I never went to Troy; it was a phantom. SERVANT: What? You mean it was only for a cloud that we struggled so much? ........... EURIPIDES, HELEN