Sunday, June 18, 2006

Night Poem


As this is my last night in "freedom", before going into the hard life of the working man, I choose to devote this night and this day's post to Walt. The poet who gave us the song of himself and the song of America. But I will also devote a thought to Hopper, who's nightly image of the hawks is a favourite of mine. Have a very good night and a couple of sweet dreams to go.




I WANDER all night in my vision,
Stepping with light feet, swiftly and noise-
lessly stepping and stopping,
Bending with open eyes over the shut eyes of
sleepers,
Wandering and confused, lost to myself, ill-
assorted, contradictory,
Pausing, gazing, bending, stopping.

How solemn they look there, stretched and still!
How quiet they breathe, the little children in their
cradles!

The wretched features of ennuyees, the white
features of corpses, the livid faces of drunk-
ards, the sick-gray faces of onanists,
The gashed bodies on battle-fields, the insane in
their strong-doored rooms, the sacred idiots,
The new-born emerging from gates, and the dying
emerging from gates,
The night pervades them and enfolds them.

WW

Thursday, June 15, 2006

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

COME live with me and be my Love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That hills and valleys, dale and field,
And all the craggy mountains yield.


There will we sit upon the rocks
5
And see the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.


There will I make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies, 10
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle.


A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull,
Fair linèd slippers for the cold, 15
With buckles of the purest gold.


A belt of straw and ivy buds
With coral clasps and amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me and be my Love. 20


Thy silver dishes for thy meat
As precious as the gods do eat,
Shall on an ivory table be
Prepared each day for thee and me.


The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
25
For thy delight each May-morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my Love.

Chris. Marlowe