Apollo Laughs

By Katharine Lee Bates

"APOLLO laughs," the proverb tells,

Far echo of old oracles,

A Delphic waif, —"Once in the year,

Apollo laughs." O laughter clear

As sunshine, blithe as golden bells!

What mortal folly parallels

Olympian jest and so impels

To mirth till Heaven's bright charioteer,

Apollo, laughs?

'Tis when the annual critic knells

The death of poetry, while swells

Some faint, fresh wood-note, pioneer

Of music earth shall thrill to hear.

Then at Apollo's infidels

Apollo laughs.