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Solon, Solon,
Solon, Solon ...!
Whom I
met in high-school;
You'll recall that your reforms,
Made of me a simple fool!
Solon,
Solon, Solon, Solon ...!
Nineteen hundred sixty
two,
When your Athens in me grew,
And I thought too good of you!
Asked
my teacher, exam day:
"Well, Parada, could you say
In a manner most complete
Which is Solon's greatest feat?"
"Solon
had thraldom removed,
And thereby Athens improved."
Said
the teacher: "Is that all?"
And I answer'd in my fall:
"That was Solon's greatest deed:
To all slaves freedom concede."
"Well,
dear friend, you have just drowned,"
Said the teacher, cold, and frowned,
"Since three words you did forget:
'Caused by debt, caused by debt.'
For that sole and only cause,
He banned thraldom with his laws.
That's the greatest feat of Solon,
And you had your mind stolen!"
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Solon,
Solon, Solon, Solon ...!
Solon, Solon, Solon, Solon ...!
Thus I
learned the limitation
Of your famous legislation:
That you clearly could not see
That the gods had made man free.
When they said:"Sing, fly and swing!"
You responded:"But with small
wing."
Solon,
Solon, Solon, Solon ...!
O great Solon, O great Solon!
No more
could I understand
That your fame should be so grand!
It was then that in my rage
I refused to call you 'sage',
And sang--when I drove along--
This defeated, bitter song:
"For
your sake I am in shame,
For this term, out of the game!
Farewell beach! Farewell vacation!
That resolved your legislation!
I am finished, I am through,
Having thought too good of you!
O great Solon, O great Solon!
Is my mind that is stolen?
Or should you have banned all bonds
Banned all bonds, banned all
bonds?"
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