Merlin: A Poem

"Merlin: A Poem" by Edwin Arlington Robinson is a dramatic narrative poem written in 1917. Robinson reimagines the Arthurian legend through a modern lens, stripping away romantic ideals to portray King Arthur and his knights as flawed leaders—warrior, lover, fool. At the center is Merlin, a prophet who follows Vivian to Brocéliande not through enchantment but fate. As Camelot crumbles under betrayal and vengeance, Merlin must navigate between love and duty, witnessing a world where faith and creative love struggle against harsh reality.

Merlin: A Poem, by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #40906.