Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ORNAMENTATIONS, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN


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First Line: The curving cranes with serpent necks
Last Line: Thought spies one rose or daffodil.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Japan; Japanese


THE curving cranes with serpent necks
Knotted on these enamelled streams,
The gloating mouths thrust out to vex
The red-eyed war-gods' frenzy dreams,
The inscrutable and dog-like grin
Of demi-lions lock me in!

With countless crafty manacles
Dead men's dexterity strives to bind,
Like some machine that all but feels,
The amazed and apathizing mind.
Cornices, crannies, shape in shape,
Bud glittering eyes, defy escape.

Heavily hangs this haughty air,
Drum, knell and drone commingling slow;
Claw-tendrils reach, man-monsters glare;
The victim heart prepares to know
Art's terror, dragon genius -- till
Thought spies one rose or daffodil.





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