Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DINING ROOM, by FRANCIS JAMMES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DINING ROOM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is a rather dull cupboard here
Last Line: "good morning, mr. Jammes, how are you today?"
Subject(s): Dinners & Dining; Guests; Memory; Spiritual Life; Voices; Visiting


There is a rather dull cupboard here
that knew the voice of my great aunts,
that knew the voice of my grandfather dear,
that knew the voice of my father, too;
and to these memories it is true.
You're wrong to think it can only sit,
because I talk with it.

There's also a cuckoo made of wood.
I don't know why its voice is no longer good.
I don't like to ask. ... You see,
the voice might really be
broken, up there in its head,
just like the voice of the dead.

There's also an old buffet
that smells of wax and of conserve,
meat, and bread, and ripened pears.
It's a faithful servant and it swears
'twill all our goods preserve.

Lots of men and women have been here, near it,
who do not believe in such a spirit.
And I smile, when a visitor comes my way,
that he thinks me alone, and starts to say:
"Good morning, Mr. Jammes, how are you today?"





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