Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IT WAS OVER, by JOHN TALBOT First Line: Something expired. At the turning Subject(s): Past | ||||||||
Something expired. At the turning, A spirit was gone. That which was Turned to sepia: high collars, punting, Waxed mustaches, parasols. From bridges, children stared in the river And felt themselves, also, halved. Old manners were patently over. New manners had not yet arrived. The old, without wanting to speak Their parting lines in the act, Learned to exit the way of pipe-smoke. Uttered nothing. Utter tact. Steamy ghosts rose from horses' Maws as they champed at their bits. The ladies reached for their purses. The gentlemen tipped their hats. Copyright © 1999 by The Modern Poetry Association. This poem appears in the June 2000 issue of Poetry Magazine. http://www.poetrymagazine.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FERGUS FALLING by GALWAY KINNELL A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV LAST THINGS by WILLIAM MEREDITH CHRISTMAS TREE by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS THIS MORNING, GOD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 3. AMARYLLIS by THOMAS CAMPION UNGRATEFULNESS by GEORGE HERBERT A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 28. THE WELSH MARCHES by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN |
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