Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AMUSEMENT, by LEE WILSON DODD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AMUSEMENT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Laughter of comrades, laughter
Last Line: Day after day . . . After day . . . . .
Subject(s): Amusement Parks


Laughter of comrades, laughter . . .
Faint, gay laughter of lovers, tinkle of glass and lass;
Song from the shadowy dunes, the lighted, tremulous pier
Lighted . . shadowy songs . . .
Loud cold laughter of throngs
By the Merry-go-round --
By the sea . . .
Sound from the sea, and a sound
That is like the sea --
Feet of men shuffling and passing, shuffling, shuffling and passing . . .

O God, if Thou art,
In my brain, in my breaking heart,
Be known unto me!
For I dread the sea, and a sound that echoes the sea --
Feet of men passing, passing, passing, passing away
Day after day, day after lonely day . . .

Whisper of lovers . . friendly hail to a friend . . .
Yes, and the end -- ?
Tender, difficult words . . or resonant, brave
As the surge of a wave! -- now impotent, hushed, withdrawing . . .
Raucous rowdies are cawing,
Crows of the night . . .
While the wail of a dwindling train
Emerges, is lost again . . .

O God, I am sick with fright!
O God, God, if Thou art,
Be known unto me!
I am mad from this sea of sound that mimics the sea --
Feet of men shuffling and passing, passing away . . .
Day after day . . . after day . . . . .





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