George Santayana

George Santayana was born December 16, 1873 in Madrid to a Spanish father and a Scottish mother. At the age of nine his family immigrated to Boston, where he would remain for the next thirty years of his life.

Poetic Medium, The

by George Santayana (1863–1952)

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16

 In Chelsea dwells a Sibyl known to fame 
 Called Mrs. Fakir—necromantic name! 
 Past, present, future, open to her view 
 She (for ten dollars) will reveal to you. 
 I for less sums—the discount to the trade— 
 Quaff at her fount and seek her undismayed. 
 I found the priestess in her wonted lair 
 Up three steep flights of narrow dirty stair. 
 Chill was the darkened chamber. A thick fume 

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