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Do Not Fling Poetry into Foolishness

Do Not Fling Poetry into Foolishness The poet Merwin thinks about the whim That language uses us.  He doesn’t say That this is just a playful notion.  Slim That whimsy, though of course it’s fun to play With half-time silliness.  Yet then the game Is quite another...

Damned Quixote

               Damned Quixote Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem  When William Blake went mad, it was his soul That drove him to it.  It was far too straight, As straight as light, unerring in its goal When...

No, Not Really

                 No, Not Really The Christ will not ascend to heaven while One sinner screams in hell or close His gates. This absolute is known, or, if not, vile That Gospel truth of love since hellfire waits Forever and forever forcing God, Omniscient, to feel the...

Life Lives the Life of Life

  Life Lives the Life of Life Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem  A friend asks you the meaning of our life. As soon as it is asked, the question fails. To ask it shouts religions’ godless strife. To...

The Ghost of Grieg

      The Ghost of Grieg Imagine that you are an instrument Who offers only atmosphere, no flow Of melody, no hint of what you meant In beauty or of brass notes curved to glow Across the universe, beyond the notes That carry concepts that a poet would Convey in...

Adherence to Pain and Truth of Elements

Adherence to Pain and Truth of Elements Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem  Such things as small communion cups were notWhat gray medieval monks could use as toolsIn doing gilding on mild vellum. ...