Edwin Arlington Robinson
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.