| Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869–1935). Collected Poems. 1921. |
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| II. The Children of the Night |
| 9. Villanelle of Change |
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| SINCE Persia fell at Marathon, | |
| The yellow years have gathered fast: | |
| Long centuries have come and gone. | |
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| And yet (they say) the place will don | |
| A phantom fury of the past, | 5 |
| Since Persia fell at Marathon; | |
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| And as of old, when Helicon | |
| Trembled and swayed with rapture vast | |
| (Long centuries have come and gone), | |
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| This ancient plain, when night comes on, | 10 |
| Shakes to a ghostly battle-blast, | |
| Since Persia fell at Marathon. | |
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| But into soundless Acheron | |
| The glory of Greek shame was cast: | |
| Long centuries have come and gone, | 15 |
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| The suns of Hellas have all shone, | |
| The first has fallen to the last:— | |
| Since Persia fell at Marathon, | |
| Long centuries have come and gone. | |
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