Euclid

 

Euclid is considered the founding father of geometry in relation to his work in the textbook "Elements" which was used to teach math (specifically geometry) for a significant period of time. Although Euclid did not discover every aspect of geometry he was one of the first individuals to put the theory into a textbook for it to be taught further. 

When reading the poem by Edna I feel she is referencing how Euclid's mathematical findings had significant beauty and was admiring his work. I believe when she references "while they stare at nothing" is showing how individuals were viewing geometry prior to Euclid's discovering's and then she says "heroes seek release from dusty bondage into luminous air" perhaps referencing how free we became when Euclid published his findings as we now knew significantly more about geometry. 

I believe the second poem is perhaps thinking of a time prior to Euclid's discovery and saying how Euclid has seen the beauty of geometry but no one else had at the time leaving Euclid as the only individual to fully understand the world of geometry. I don't fully understand the second part of the poem but perhaps Edna is referencing other individuals who had discovered different elements of geometry and calling them idiots as they had not fully seen the beauty of it like Euclid.