“The laurelled exiles, kneeling to kiss these sands.
Number there freedom's friends.”

— Stephen Spender

"Exiles From Their Land, History Their Domicile"
The Still Centre (1939)
Context: The laurelled exiles, kneeling to kiss these sands.
Number there freedom's friends. One who
Within the element of endless summer,
Like leaf in amber, petrified by light,
Studied the root of action. One in a garret
Read books as though he broke up flints.

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Stephen Spender 76

English poet and man of letters 1909–1995

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