Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HOSPITAL by JAMES HARRISON

Poet Analysis

First Line: SOMEONE IS SCREAMING ALMOST IN MORSE
Last Line: SCREAMING THREE LONGS, ONE SHORT, THREE LONGS?
Subject(s): MESSAGES & MESSENGERS; PAIN; PREGNANCY; SUFFERING; MISERY;

Someone is screaming almost in Morse
code, three longs, a short, three
longs again. Man, woman, or animal?

Pale-blue room. How many have died
here and will I with my ears drummed
to pain with three longs, one short, three longs?

It's never a yelp, it starts
far back in the throat
with three longs, a short, three longs.

All beasts everywhere listen to this.
It must be music to the gods --
three longs, one short, three longs.

I don't know who it is,
a beautiful woman with a lion's lungs
screaming three longs, one short, three longs?



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