Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, REFLEXIVE, by HAYDEN CARRUTH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

REFLEXIVE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of all disquiets sorrow is most serene
Last Line: The self this gentle sorrow still recovers
Subject(s): Friendship


Of all disquiets sorrow is most serene.
Its intervals of soft humility
Are lenient; they intrude on our obscene
Debasements and our fury like a plea
For wisdom -- guilt is always shared. The fears
Fall, if for just an hour, all away,
And the old, essential person reappears.
Sorrow can shape us better than dismay.

You have forgiven me, old friends and lovers,
I think you have forgiven me at last,
As you put by the banished fugitive.
And if I'm sorry who was once aghast
For all the hurts I've done you, I forgive,
I too, the self this sorrow still recovers.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org




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