Classic and Contemporary Poetry
STATIONED, by ALBERT GOLDBARTH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: It's the other ones, who soon enough return Subject(s): Mourning; Bereavement | ||||||||
It's the other ones, who soon enough return to being happy after the funeral, that are nearest to their own deaths -- in their gaiety and everyday distraction, they're so open and unguarded . . . anything could enter them; could claim them. It's the ones who weep incessantly that are saved for now, the ones who have taken a little of it into their systems: this is how inoculation works. And sorrow is difficult, a job: it requires time to complete. And the tears? -- the salt of the folk saying, that gets sprinkled over the tail feathers and keeps a bird from flying; keeps it stationed in this world. Copyright © 2001 by The Modern Poetry Association. This poem appears in January 2001 issue of Poetry Magazine. http://www.poetrymagazine.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUNGERFIELD by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN HECUBA MOURNS by MARILYN NELSON THERE IS NO GOD BUT by AGHA SHAHID ALI IF I COULD MOURN LIKE A MOURNING DOVE by FRANK BIDART WOMAN, GALLUP, N.M. by KAREN SWENSON |
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