Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FRAGMENT 113, by HILDA DOOLITTLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FRAGMENT 113, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not honey / not the plunder of the bee
Last Line: And fiery tempered steel.
Alternate Author Name(s): H. D.; Aldington, Richard, Mrs.
Subject(s): Bible; Self


Not honey
Not the plunder of the bee
From meadow or sand-flower
Or mountain bush;
From winter-flower or shoot
Born of the later heat:
Not honey, not the sweet

Stain on the lips and teeth:
Not honey, not the deep
Plunge of the soft belly
And the clinging of the gold-edged
Pollen-dusted feet.

Not so --
Though rapture blind my eyes,
And hunger crisp
Dark and inert my mouth,
Not honey, not the south,
Not the tall stalk
Of red twin-lilies,
Nor light branch of fruit tree
Caught in flexible light branch.

Not honey, not the south;
Ah, flower of purple iris,
Flower of white,
Or of the iris, withering the grass --
For fleck of the sun's fire,
Gathers such heat and power,
That shadow-print is light,
Cast through the petals
Of the yellow iris flower.

Not iris -- old desire -- old passion --
Old forgetfulness -- old pain --
Not this, nor any flower,
But if you turn again,
Seek strength of arm and throat,
Touch as the god:
Neglect the lyre-note;
Knowing that you shall feel,
About the frame,
No trembling of the string
But heat more passionate
Of bone and the white shell
And fiery tempered steel.




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