Kate's Pick

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[175]
 
I have never seen "Volcanoes" --
But, when Travellers tell
How those old -- phlegmatic mountains
Usually so still --

Bear within -- appalling Ordnance,
Fire, and smoke, and gun,
Taking Villages for breakfast,
And appalling Men --

If the stillness is Volcanic
In the human face
When upon a pain Titanic
Features keep their place --

If at length the smouldering anguish
Will not overcome --
And the palpitating Vineyard
In the dust, be thrown?

If some loving Antiquary,
On Resumption Morn,
Will not cry with joy "Pompeii"!
To the Hills return!


(I had to pick 2, sorry!)

[314]

Nature -- sometimes sears a Sapling --
Sometimes -- scalps a Tree --
Her Green People recollect it
When they do not die --

Fainter Leaves -- to Further Seasons --
Dumbly testify --
We -- who have the Souls --
Die oftener -- Not so vitally --

Comments

  1. Kate HApril 28, 2020 at 10:00 AM

    Circe's Power:


    I never turned anyone into a pig.
    Some people are pigs; I make them
    Look like pigs.

    I'm sick of your world
    That lets the outside disguise the inside. Your men weren't bad men;
    Undisciplined life
    Did that to them. As pigs,

    Under the care of
    Me and my ladies, they
    Sweetened right up.

    Then I reversed the spell, showing you my goodness
    As well as my power. I saw

    We could be happy here,
    As men and women are
    When their needs are simple. In the same breath,

    I foresaw your departure,
    Your men with my help braving
    The crying and pounding sea. You think

    A few tears upset me? My friend,
    Every sorceress is
    A pragmatist at heart; nobody sees essence who can't
    Face limitation. If I wanted only to hold you

    I could hold you prisoner.

    - Louise Glück

    ReplyDelete

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