Alone, like a feather in the air, An occasional sadness the weather knows Comes to earth as a bend in the road. The winter is at its most instructive As other sadnesses fall Across the democracy of objects. Those that aren't shy Introduce themselves -- Fool's Errand, Clowns of Anguish -- The Equitation of Beautiful Young Girls Is an exemplary sadness, As is The Whale's Parasol. I want to part company With linear extent, Congenital heartbreak, Where the raven goes and snow comes from. I want distance washed clean, Unencumbered by facts; The red cactus flower To slip into my shirt at dusk And be the heart's boat. I want Clowns of Anguish to raise the sail, And a white handkerchief Waving from shore. Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0271, www.cc.press.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SCHOLARS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE SEVEN OLD MEN; TO VICTOR HUGO by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE THE FOUR ZOAS: NIGHTS THE FIRST AND SECOND by WILLIAM BLAKE A TOMBLESS EPITAPH by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE TO THE TENTH LEGION, NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEERS, 1862 by RUTH NATALIE CROMWELL |