Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, REBELS, by FRANK ERNEST HILL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

REBELS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We two shall disagree... His time-fogged eyes
Last Line: The hill and I exult with turbulent growth!
Subject(s): Quarrels; Revolutions; Arguments; Disagreements


I

We two shall disagree . . . His time-fogged eyes
Grope in deserted meadows -- "Grow, grow, grow!
The trees have got the hill again," he sighs,
"You wouldn't think it -- not eight years ago
We dug potatoes there." He shakes his head
To see the forest eating back the field
That once could eat the forest up instead.
To scourge the land with plows and make it yield
Order and stuff for cellars -- that would set
Sweet pulses singing. This tumultuous growth
Is something like a sin he can't forget,
Cannot forgive the hills. Loose-lipped and loath
He sees the unleashed soil rage up in green --
"Yes, that was corn, with squashes in between!"

II

And I can smile at him. Poised in curved blue
The moveless noon recalls the thunder-dream --
That far, dark, beating world where men are through
With green rebellion, saved by stone and steam!
Here the young trees thrust javelins toward the sun --
Blunt tulip tree and fine-tooled dogwood leaves --
I cannot mourn grey orchard trees undone,
Or wheat that stands no more in silver sheaves;
I have been intimate with earth well tamed,
To this great heave and rush my heart beats well;
Let the oaks charge, let the hard wall be shamed;
They are my clan, these wild things that rebel.
The old man mutters desolately, but both
The hill and I exult with turbulent growth!





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