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Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Searching... Author: WRIGHT, JAMES Matches Found: 324 Simmons, James Wright 1 poems available by this author SUMTER'S BAND Poem Text First Line: When carolina's hope grew pale Last Line: Their watchword is thy memory! Subject(s): American Revolution; Sumter, Thomas (1734-1832); Virginia (state) Wright, James Poet's Biography Alternate Author Name(s): Wright, James A. 318 poems available by this author A BLESSING Poem Text First Line: Just off the highway to rochester, minnesota Variant Title(s): The Blessing Subject(s): Love; Love - Marital; Men; Minnesota; Nature; Wedded Love; Marriage - Love A BREATH OF AIR Poem Text First Line: I walked, when love was gone Last Line: And things were as they were Subject(s): Love – Loss Of A CENTENARY ODE: INSCRIBED TO LITTLE CROW, LEADER OF SIOUX REBELLION Poem Text First Line: I had nothing to do with it, I was not here Last Line: My own grave is Subject(s): Native Americans - Wars A DREAM OF BURIAL Poem Text First Line: Nothing was left of me Subject(s): Dreams; Self-pity; Nightmares A FINCH SITTING OUT A WINDSTORM Poem Text First Line: Solemnly irritated by the turn Subject(s): Finches; Wind A FIRST DAY IN PARIS Poem Text First Line: Some twenty years ago I was still a young man. I did not know Subject(s): Paris, France A FLOWER PASSAGE Poem Text First Line: Even if you were above the ground this year Subject(s): Diving & Divers; Death; Childhood Memories; Dead, The A GESTURE BY A LADY WITH AN ASSUMED NAME Poem Text First Line: Letters she left to clutter up the desk Subject(s): Prostitution; Harlots; Whores; Brothels A LAZY POEM ON SATURDAY EVENING Poem Text First Line: Right now, I'm going on a journey A LITTLE GIRL ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL Poem Text First Line: When the dark dawn humped off to die Subject(s): Morning; Birds; Walking A MAD FIGHT SONG FOR WILLIAM S. CARPENTER, 1966 Poem Text First Line: Quick on my feet in those novembers of my loneliness, Subject(s): Carpenter, William S., Jr.; Football; Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 A NOTE LEFT IN JIMMY LEONARD'S SHACK Poem Text First Line: Near the dry river's water-mark we found Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Drowning; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse A POEM ABOUT GEORGE DOTY IN THE DEATH HOUSE Poem Text First Line: Lured by the wall, and drawn Last Line: Crumbled his pleading kiss Subject(s): Automobile Accidents; Death A POEM BY GARNIE BRAXTON Poem Text First Line: Garnie, I wish I was a sea gull Last Line: I been there once Subject(s): Birds; Children; Gulls; Labor & Laborers; Childhood; Seagulls; Work; Workers A POEM WRITTEN UNDER AN ARCHWAY IN A DISCONTINUED RAILROAD STATION Poem Text First Line: Outside the great clanging cathedrals of rust and smoke Last Line: Of old age Subject(s): Railroad Stations A PRESENTATION OF TWO BIRDS TO MY SON Poem Text First Line: Chicken. How shall I tell you what it is Subject(s): Fathers & Sons; Birds A SECRET GRATITUDE Poem Text First Line: She cleaned house, and then lay down long Subject(s): Boissevain, Eugen (1881-1949); Millay, Edna St. Vincent (1892-1950); Man-woman Relationships; Death; Mourning; Male-female Relations; Dead, The; Bereavement A SONG FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT Poem Text First Line: Now first of all he means the night Subject(s): Babies; Infants A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING Poem Text First Line: When I was a boy, a relative Subject(s): Jobs A WINTER DAYBREAK ABOVE VENCE Poem Text Subject(s): Winter; Nature ABOVE SAN FERMO First Line: Somehow I have never lost AGAINST SURREALISM First Line: There are some tiny obvious details in human life that survive the divine AMERICAN TWILIGHTS, 1957 First Line: The buckles glitter, billies lean Last Line: God, god have pity on man apart AMONG SUNFLOWERS First Line: You can stand in among them without AN OFFERING FOR MR. BLUEHART Poem Text First Line: That was a place, when I was young Subject(s): Orchards; Childhood Memories; Regret ANGEL First Line: Last night, before I came to bear Last Line: As I drift upward dropping a white feather ANGRY MOTHER First Line: She has taken her children down one street Last Line: When you stay home to me, husband mine, %they will come laughing home again.' APOLLO First Line: A young man, his face dark ARRANGEMENTS WITH EARTH FOR THREE DEAD FRIENDS Poem Text First Line: Sweet earth, he ran and changed his shoes to go Last Line: The change of tone, the human hope gone gray Subject(s): Death; Earth; Dead, The; World ARRANGEMENTS WITH EARTH FOR THREE DEAD FRIENDS First Line: Sweet earth, he ran and changed his shoes to go Last Line: The change of tone, the human hope gone gray Subject(s): Death; Earth ARRIVING IN THE COUNTRY AGAIN Poem Text First Line: The white house is silent. Subject(s): Country Life AS I STEP OVER A PUDDLE AT THE END OF WINTER, I THINK OF AN ANCIENT... First Line: Po chu-I, balding old politician Last Line: For a thousand years? AS I STEP OVER A PUDDLE AT THE END OF WINTER, I THINK OF AN ANCIENY CHINESE GOVERNOR Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: Po chu-I, balding old politician, Subject(s): Middle West; China; Seeking; Midwest; Old Northwest; Central States; North Central States ASSIGNATION First Line: After the winter thawed away, I rose AT PEACE WITH THE OCEAN OFF MISQUAMICUT First Line: A million rootlets AT THE END OF SIRMIONE First Line: Conventional melancholy leaves me AT THE EXECUTED MURDERER'S GRAVE Poem Text First Line: My name is james a. Wright, and I was born Last Line: Dirt of my flesh, defeated, underground Subject(s): Crime & Criminals AT THE EXECUTED MURDERER'S GRAVE First Line: My name is james a. Wright, and I was born Last Line: Dirt of my flesh, defeated, underground Subject(s): Crime And Criminals AT THE SLACKENING OF THE TIDE First Line: Today I saw a woman wrapped in rage Subject(s): Sea AT THOMAS HARDY'S BIRTHPLACE, 1953 First Line: The nurse carried him up the stair Last Line: Having been nursed beyond the sopping rain, %back down the stair AUBADE AT THE ZAMA REPLACEMENT DEPOT Poem Text First Line: At five o'clock I saw the sergeant slouch Subject(s): Soldiers AUTUMN BEGINS IN MARTINS FERRY, OHIO Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: In the shreve high football stadium Subject(s): Autumn; Education; Football; Industry; Labor & Laborers; High Schools; Fall; Work; Workers AUTUMN BEGINS IN MARTINS FERRY, OHIO First Line: In the shreve high football stadium Last Line: And gallop terribly against each other's bodies Subject(s): Autumn; Education; Football; Industry; Labor And Laborers; Schools; Seasons; Sports AUTUMNAL Poem Text First Line: Soft, where the shadow glides Last Line: Is whispered throgh , and gone Subject(s): Love AUTUMNAL First Line: Soft, where the shadow glides Last Line: Gathers about you now, %is whispered through, and gone Subject(s): Love BEAUTIFUL OHIO Poem Text First Line: Those old winnebago men Last Line: I call it beauty Subject(s): Industry; Labor & Laborers; Ohio; Work; Workers BEAUTIFUL OHIO First Line: Those old winnebago men Last Line: I call it beauty Subject(s): Industry; Labor And Laborers BEFORE THE CASHIER'S WINDOW IN A DEPARTMENT STORE First Line: The beautiful cashier's white face has risen once more Last Line: Is what it feels like BEGINNING Poem Text First Line: The moon drops one or two feathers into the fields. Subject(s): Fields; Moon; Love; Pastures; Meadows; Leas BEGINNING First Line: The moon drops one or two feathers into the field Last Line: And I lean toward mine BEST DAYS First Line: First, the two men stand pondering BETWEEN WARS First Line: Flocks of green midges and the frail BLESSING First Line: Just off the highway to rochester, minnesota Last Line: That if I stepped out of my body I would break %into blossom Variant Title(s): The Blessin Subject(s): Love; Love - Marital; Men; Minnesota; Nature BREATH OF AIR First Line: I walked, when love was gone Last Line: And things were as they were Subject(s): Love BUTTERFLY FISH First Line: Not five seconds ago, I saw him flutter so quick BY A LAKE IN MINNESOTA Poem Text First Line: Upshore from the cloud Subject(s): Beavers BY THE RUINS OF A GUN EMPLACEMENT: SAINT-BENOIT First Line: Behind us, the haystack rustles CAMOMILA First Line: Summer is not yet gone, but long ago the leaves have fallen. They never CAPRICE First Line: Whenever I get tired Last Line: Then we were all going to be %sorry together CENTENARY ODE: INSCRIBED TO LITTLE CROW, LEADER OF SIOUX REBELLION First Line: I had nothing to do with it, I was not here Last Line: I don't even know where %my own grave is Subject(s): Native Americans - Wars CHILBLAIN First Line: My uncle willy with his long lecherous face COME, LOOK QUIETLY Poem Text First Line: The bird on the terrace has his own name in french, but I don't Subject(s): Birds; French Langauge COME, LOOK QUIETLY First Line: The bird on the terrace has his own mane in french, but I don't know COMING HOME TO MAUI First Line: It took her an hour to climb the green cliff here COMPLAINT Poem Text First Line: She's gone. She was my love, my moon or more Last Line: And now lies down, who was my moon or more Subject(s): Love - Marital; Marriage; Wedded Love; Marriage - Love; Weddings; Husbands; Wives COMPLAINT First Line: She's gone. She was my love, my moon or more Last Line: And now lies down, who was my moon or more Subject(s): Love - Marital; Marriage CONFESSION TO J. EDGAR HOOVER Poem Text First Line: Hiding in the church of an abandoned stone Last Line: I did not know what I was doing Subject(s): African Americans - Military CONFESSION TO J. EDGAR HOOVER First Line: Hiding in the church of an abandoned stone Last Line: I did not know what I was doing Subject(s): African Americans - Military CONTEMPLATING THE FRONT STEPS OF THE CATHEDRAL IN FLORENCE First Line: Once, in some hill trees long ago CONTRADICTORY EXISTENCE First Line: The sun I saw, though through the rain Last Line: To be a genius is my goal, %but I, at best, am but a fool DARK MOOR BIRD DAWN NEAR AN OLD BATTLEFIELD, IN A TIME OF PEACE First Line: Along the water the small invisible owls DEPRESSED BY A BOOK OF BAD POETRY, I WALK ... First Line: Relieved, I let the book fall behind a stone Last Line: Then lovely, far off, a dark cricket begins %in the castles of maples Subject(s): Poetry And Poets DEPRESSED BY A BOOK OF BAD POETRY, I WALK TOWARD AN UNUSED PASTURE AND INVITE THE INSECTS TO JOIN ME Poem Text First Line: Relieved, I let the book fall behind a stone Last Line: In the maple trees Subject(s): Depression, Mental DISCOVERIES IN ARIZONA First Line: All my life so far Last Line: That's all right, said the boy. %maybe she's never seen you either Subject(s): Arizona; Deserts; Food And Eating DOG IN A CORNFIELD First Line: Fallow between the horny trees Subject(s): Animals; Dogs DOG IN A CORNFIELD First Line: Fallow between the horny trees Last Line: The man quick to a joy he understands Subject(s): Animals; Dogs DOORS First Line: When the rain goes ruining Last Line: Doors are opening in the wet hillsides %of the snow DREAM OF BURIAL First Line: Nothing was left of me EISENHOWER'S VISIT OF FRANCO, 1959 Poem Text First Line: The american hero must triumph over Last Line: Of bare fields, / in spain Subject(s): Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) EISENHOWER'S VISIT OF FRANCO, 1959 First Line: The american hero must triumph over Last Line: Of bare fields, %in spain Subject(s): Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) EISENHOWER'S VISIT TO FRANCO, 1959 First Line: The american hero must triumph over %the forces of darkness Last Line: Clean new bombers from america muffle their engines %and glide down now Subject(s): Politics ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF THE MORAY EEL First Line: There is no mystery in it so far ENTERING THE TEMPLE IN NIMES First Line: As long as this evening lasts EVENING First Line: I called him to come in Last Line: The wide earth darkened so Subject(s): Children FEAR IS WHAT QUICKENS ME Poem Text First Line: Many animals that our fathers killed in america Last Line: O look about wildly Subject(s): Nature FEAR IS WHAT QUICKENS ME First Line: Many animals that out fathers killed in america Last Line: I look about wildly Subject(s): Nature FINCH SITTING OUT A WINDSTORM First Line: Solemnly irritated by the turn Last Line: He never listens %to me FIRST DAYS First Line: The first thing I saw in the morning FISHING SONG First Line: I have never killed anybody FLOWER PASSAGE First Line: Even if you were above the ground this year FLYING EAGLES OF TROOP 62 First Line: Ralph neal was the scoutmaster Last Line: Enough to drive you crazy Subject(s): Men FOR THE MARSH'S BIRTHDAY First Line: I was alone once, waiting Last Line: My irish cockatoo FOX AT EYPE First Line: He knows that all dogs boundng here and there, from the little vales all FRESH WIND IN VENICE First Line: North of one island FROM A BUS WINDOW IN CENTRAL OHIO, JUST BEFORE A THUNDER SHOWER Poem Text First Line: Cribs loaded with roughage huddle together Subject(s): Farm Life; Storms; Agriculture; Farmers FRUITS OF THE SEASON First Line: It is a fresh morning of late august in padus FRUITS OF THE SEASON First Line: It is a fresh morning of late august in padua. After the night's rain, the Last Line: In love Subject(s): Food And Eating; Fruit; Paintings And Painters GESTURE BY A LADY WITH AN ASSUMED NAME First Line: Letters she left to clutter up the desk Last Line: To creep outside and see the cops were gone GHOST First Line: I cannot live nor die Subject(s): Fantasy GOODBYE TO THE POETRY OF CALCIUM Poem Text First Line: Mother of roots, you have not seeded Last Line: I do not even have ashes to rub into my eyes Subject(s): Poetry & Poets GOODBYE TO THE POETRY OF CALCIUM First Line: Mother of roots, you have not seeded GREETINGS IN NEW YORK CITY First Line: A man walking alone, a stranger HAIKU: 10 First Line: Coming from the woods Last Line: Dangling from a horn HAIKU: 11 First Line: A balmy spring wind Last Line: I cannot recall HAIKU: 12 First Line: The dog's violent sneeze Last Line: On his mangy back HAIKU: 13 First Line: I would like a bell Last Line: Over willow trees HAIKU: 14 First Line: The green cockleburs Last Line: Of the black boy's head HAIKU: 17 First Line: Why is the hail so wild Last Line: Only to lie so still HAIKU: 9 First Line: Just enough of rain Last Line: From the umbrellas HAVING LOST MY SONS, I CONFRONT THE WRECKAGE OF THE MOON First Line: After dark %near the south dakota border Last Line: And I am lost in the beautiful white ruins %of america HELL First Line: I had no idea HONEY Poem Text First Line: My father died at the age of eighty. One of the last things he Subject(s): Industry; Labor & Laborers; Work; Workers HONEY First Line: My father died at the age of eighty. One of the last things he Last Line: I say a life Subject(s): Industry; Labor And Laborers HOOK Poem Text First Line: I was only a young man Last Line: But I took it Subject(s): Kindness; Phyusical Disabilities HOOK First Line: I was only a young man HORSE First Line: He kicked the world, and lunging long ago Last Line: Cough in a dish beside a wrinkled bed HOTEL LENOX Poem Text First Line: And she loved loving Last Line: And the lemon light flew over the river Subject(s): Hotels; Inns; Innskeepers; Motels; Boarding Houses HOTEL LENOX First Line: And she loved loving Last Line: And the lemon light flew out over the river Subject(s): Hotels I CANNOT WRITE. THE WORDS NO LONGER FLOW Last Line: The fruit of satisfaction, and shall write, %eternally, the synonyms of light! ICE HOUSE First Line: The house was really a cellar deep beneath the tower of the old belmont IN A FIELD NEAR METAPONTO First Line: The huge columns, the temple of apollo IN DEFENSE OF LATE SUMMER First Line: I have called up this every IN EXILE First Line: I kneel above a single rail of the baltimore and ohio IN GALLIPOLI First Line: Gray as the sea moss wavering among the green shallows along the shore IN MEMORY OF A SPANISH POET Poem Text First Line: I see you strangling Last Line: Silos creep away toward the west Subject(s): Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) IN MEMORY OF A SPANISH POET First Line: I see you strangling Last Line: Silos creep away toward the west Subject(s): Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) IN MEMORY OF LEOPARDI First Line: I have gone past all those times when poets IN MEMORY OF MAYOR RICHARD DALEY Poem Text First Line: When you get down to it Last Line: This is what you're up against Subject(s): Daley, Richard M. (1902-1976) IN MEMORY OF MAYOR RICHARD DALEY First Line: When you get down to it Subject(s): Daley, Richard M. (1902-1976) IN MEMORY OF THE OTTOMANS First Line: This man, mending his nets as the sun goes down, tells me religiously IN RESPONSE TO RUMOR THAT OLDEST WHOREHOUSE IN WHEELING, WV, CONDEMNED Poem Text First Line: I will grieve alone Subject(s): Hate; Prostitution; Harlots; Whores; Brothels IN RESPONSE TO RUMOR THAT OLDEST WHOREHOUSE IN WHEELING, WV, CONDEMNED First Line: I will grieve alone Last Line: To find beyond death %bridgeport, ohio Subject(s): Hate; Prostitution IN THE COLD HOUSE Poem Text First Line: I slept a few minutes ago, Subject(s): Aging IN VIEW OF THE PROTESTANT CEMETERY IN ROME First Line: It is idle to say INSCRIPTION FOR THE TANK First Line: My life was never so precious Last Line: What is their pity to me JEROME IN SOLITUDE First Line: To see the lizard there JEWEL First Line: There is this cave Last Line: My bones turn to dark emeralds JOURNEY First Line: Anghiari is medieval, a sleeve sloping down Last Line: Will bury their own, don't worry LAME APOLLO First Line: There was a little boy who wrote som rhymes Last Line: Now beauty fears to dwell in him again, %and the muse he does not give a damn LAMENT FOR THE SHADOWS IN THE DITCHES First Line: Right now the roman noon is so brilliant it hurts my eyes. I Last Line: Beautiful of god's creatures except maybe horses LAMENT: FISHING WITH RICHARD HUGO First Line: If john updike had been LAST NOVEMBER IN A FIELD First Line: Today I am walking alone in a bare place LAST PIETA, IN FLORENCE First Line: The whole city %is stone, even Last Line: Where stone %doesn't belong? LEAVE HIM ALONE Poem Text First Line: The trouble with me is Subject(s): Lizards LEAVE HIM ALONE First Line: The trouble with me is LEAVING THE TEMPLE IN NIMES First Line: And, sure enough LIFE First Line: Murdered, I went, risen Last Line: And it is %the last time LIGHTING A CANDLE FOR W.H. AUDEN First Line: The poet kept his promise LIGHTNING BUGS ASLEEP IN THE AFTERNOON First Line: These long-suffering and affectionate shadows LIMPET IN OTRANTO First Line: These limpets have lain empty and bodiless for long years now LITTLE MARBLE BOY Poem Text Last Line: To catch a white fish Subject(s): Statues LITTLE MARBLE BOY Last Line: In an everlasting gesture %to catch a white fish Subject(s): Statues LIVING BY THE RED RIVER Recitation by Author LOVE IN A WARM ROOM IN WINTER First Line: The trouble with you is Last Line: Just take it easy. %aha! LYING IN A HAMMOCK AT WILLIAM DUFFY'S FARM IN PINE ISLAND, MINNESOTA Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: Over my head, I see the bronze butterfly Subject(s): Landscape; Nature LYING IN A HAMMOCK AT WILLIAM DUFFY'S FARM IN PINE ISLAND, MINNESOTA First Line: Over my head, I see the bronze butterfly Last Line: I have wasted my life MAD FIGHT SONG FOR WILLIAM S. CARPENTER, 1966 First Line: Quick on my feet in those novembers of my loneliness MARCH Poem Text First Line: A bear under the snow Subject(s): Bears MARY BLY Poem Text First Line: I sit here, doing nothing, alone, worn out by long winter. Subject(s): Babies; Infants MAY MORNING First Line: Deep into spring, winter is hanging on. Bitter and skillful in his hopeless MICROMUTATIONS First Line: A million years of death some star Last Line: Till we struck stone at last, to lie %here on the frozen floor of hell MILKWEED Poem Text First Line: While I stood here, in the open, lost in myself Subject(s): Men; Nature MILKWEED First Line: While I stood here, in the open, lost in myself Last Line: The air fills with delicate creatures %from the other world Subject(s): Men; Nature MINERS First Line: The police are dragging for the bodies Last Line: I can hear cars, moving on steel rails, colliding %underground Subject(s): Mines And Miners MINNEAPOLIS POEM First Line: I wonder how many old men last winter MOORHEN AND HER EIGHT YOUNG First Line: They are little balls of charcoal-gray mallow among drifting MORAL POEM FREELY ACCEPTED FROM SAPPHO First Line: I would like to sleep with deer MOUSE TAKING A NAP First Line: I look all alike to him, one blur of nervous mountains after another MUTTERINGS OVER THE CRIB OF A DEAF CHILD Poem Text First Line: How will he hear the bell at school Subject(s): Babies; Deafness; Labor & Laborers; Physical Disabilities; Infants; Work; Workers; Handicapped; Handicaps; Physically Challenged; Cripples MUTTERINGS OVER THE CRIB OF A DEAF CHILD First Line: How will he hear the bell at school Last Line: Whether he hears my song or not Subject(s): Babies; Deafness; Labor And Laborers; Physical Disabilities MY GRANDMOTHER'S GHOST Poem Text First Line: She skimmed the yellow water like a moth Subject(s): Grandparents; Ghosts; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers MY GRANDMOTHER'S GHOST First Line: She skimmed the yellow water like a moth, Last Line: She hurried to the ground, and slipped below. MY NOTEBOOK First Line: This friendly shadow of pine leaves NAMES IN MONTERCHI: TO RACHEL First Line: We woke early NEAR MANSFIELD, OHIO Poem Text First Line: The enormous muscle-bound dobbins of autumn Subject(s): Death; Loneliness; Dead, The NERUDA First Line: Trees that are not trees easily NORTHERN PIKE Poem Text First Line: Over my head, I see the bronze butterfly Subject(s): Fish & Fishing; Anglers NOTE LEFT IN JIMMY LEONARD'S SHACK First Line: Near the dry river's water-mark we found Last Line: Rolled in the roots and garbage like a fish, %the poor old man Subject(s): Alcoholics And Alcoholism; Drowning NOTES OF A PASTORALIST First Line: In a field outside of pisa, I saw a shepherd OHIOAN PASTORAL First Line: On the other side %of salt creek Last Line: And now it hisses among the green rings %on fingers in coff ins OLD BUD First Line: Old bud romick weighed three hundred pounds if he weighed an ounce OLD DOG IN THE RUINS OF THE GRAVES AT ARLES First Line: I have heard tell somewhere Last Line: The old dogs don't know Subject(s): Animals; Dogs OLD MAN DRUNK First Line: He sits before me now, reptilian, cold Last Line: Till daylight, when the barkeep says goodbye Subject(s): Bars And Bartenders ON A PHRASE FROM SOUTHERN OHIO First Line: A long time's gone ON HAVING MY POCKET PICKED IN ROME First Line: These hands are desparate for me to stay alive. They do not want to lose Last Line: They spin their nests and live on me in their sleep ON THE SKELETON OF A HOUND Poem Text First Line: Nightfall, that saw the morning-glories float Subject(s): Skeletons; Dogs; Death - Animals ON THE SKELETON OF A HOUND First Line: Nightfall, that saw the morning-glories float Last Line: Knocked down a fence, tore up a field of clover ONE LAST LOOT AT THE ADIGE: VERONA IN THE RAIN First Line: Some crumbling of igneous OUTSIDE FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA Poem Text First Line: Along the sprawled body of the derailed great northern freight car Last Line: And sick for home Subject(s): Homesickness; Railroads; Railways; Trains OUTSIDE FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA First Line: Along the sprawled body of the derailed great northern freight car Last Line: And sick for home Subject(s): Homesickness; Railroads OVER THGE COFFIN First Line: They stand confronting, the coffin between Last Line: Had lived like the wives in the patriarchs' days Subject(s): Love - Marital; Marriage PAUL First Line: I used to see her in the door PETITION TO THE TERNS First Line: I have lived long enough to see Last Line: And I wish the terns would give it %and me a break PICCOLINI First Line: Looming and almost molten and slowly moving its gold POEM First Line: Back in grammar school ten years ago Last Line: I'll write her living face. I cannot start %into abstraction. I know her, and no more POEM BY GARNIE BRAXTON First Line: Garnie, I wish I was a sea gull Last Line: I been there once Subject(s): Birds; Children; Gulls; Labor And Laborers POEM OF TOWERS First Line: I am becoming one POEM ON A TRIP TO OHIO First Line: My father's hair Last Line: I begin weeping for the inconsolable wilderness of home, %like a drunk POEM WRITTEN UNDER AN ARCHWAY IN A DISCONTINUED RAILROAD STATION First Line: Outside the great clanging cathedrals of rust and smoke Last Line: He smiles with the sinister grief %of old age Subject(s): Railroad Stations POEMS TO A BROWN CRICKET Poem Text First Line: I woke / just about daybreak and fell back Last Line: In a book that is shining Subject(s): Crickets POEMS TO A BROWN CRICKET First Line: I woke %just about daybreak and fell back Last Line: At the small golden door of your body till you wake %in a book that is shining Subject(s): Crickets PRAYER FOR A YOUNG WIFE First Line: Into the damask-velvet gloom Last Line: This woman is too quick and wild. %waken her. Send her home to me Subject(s): Native Americans - Pre-columbian PRAYER TO ESCAPE FROM THE MARKET PLACE First Line: I renounce the blindness of the magazines PRESENTATION OF TWO BIRDS TO MY SON First Line: Chicken. How shall I tell you what it is Last Line: The flight is deeper than your father, boy PRIVATE MEETING PLACE First Line: I saw three withered women limp across Last Line: Than we might mock their ashes where they lie, %we angry ghosts. But now the winter's come QUEST First Line: In pasture where the leaf and wood Last Line: Immeasurably alive and good, %though bare as rifted paradise RAIN First Line: It is the sinking of things RAINBOW ON GARDA First Line: The storm crawls down READING A 1979 INSCRIPTION ON BELLI'S MONUMENT First Line: It is not only the romans who are gone RED JACKET'S GRAVE Poem Text First Line: I have a deep identity Subject(s): Graves; Red Jacket. Seneca Chief (1756-1830); Tombs; Tombstones REDWINGS First Line: It turns out REGRET FOR A SPIDER WEB First Line: Laying the foundations of community, she labors all alone REPLY TO MATTHEW ARNOLD ON MY FIFTH DAY IN FANO First Line: It is idle to speak of five mere days in fano, or five long days, or five RIP First Line: It can't be the passing of time that casts SAINT JUDAS Poem Text First Line: When I went out to kill myself, I caught Subject(s): Humanity; Suicide SAINT JUDAS First Line: When I went out to kill myself, I caught Last Line: I held the man for nothing in my arms Subject(s): Humanity; Suicide SAPPHO First Line: The twilight falls; I soften the dusting feathers SECRET GRATITUDE First Line: She cleaned house, and then lay down long SECRET OF LIGHT First Line: I am sitting contented and alone in a little park near the SHEEP IN THE RAIN First Line: In burgandy, beyond auxerre Last Line: The farmers are kind to the grass. %they have to be SILENT ANGEL First Line: As I sat down by the bus window in the gate of verona SIMON First Line: I am spending my whole life turning SITTING IN A SMALL SCREENHOUSE ON A SUMMER MORNING Poem Text First Line: Ten more miles, it is south dakota. Subject(s): Middle West; Horses; Midwest; Old Northwest; Central States; North Central States SMALL FROGS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY Poem Text First Line: Still, I would leap too Last Line: Of the moon, they can't see, / not yet Subject(s): Frogs; Automobile Accidents SMALL FROGS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY First Line: Still, %I would leap too Last Line: Of the moon. They can't see, %not yet SMALL GROVE IN TORRI DEL BENACO First Line: Outside our window we have a small willow, and a liitle SMALL WILD CRABS DELIGHTING ON BLACK SAND First Line: Nearsighted, I feel a kinship SNOWFALL: A POEM ABOUT SPRING First Line: The field mouse follows its own shadow SOME PLACES IN AMERICA ARE ANONYMOUS First Line: Our cities Last Line: And the old fullbacks who weep for their sins %just before daybreak SON OF JUDAS Poem Text First Line: The last time I prayed to escape from my body Last Line: And leave us go Subject(s): Body, Human; Self SONNET: ON MY VIOLENT APPROVAL OF ROBERT SERVICE First Line: I have not wandered far away from home Last Line: Than dream that I might be forever blest %if I should scorn a god-like man who swears SONNET: RESPONSE First Line: You made warm mention of some scummy gem Last Line: God! But they're raising hell; and, hopeless, I %behold them with my feet ensnared in mud SPEAK First Line: To speak in a flat voice Last Line: Come down. Come down. Why dost %thou hide thy face? STAGES ON A JOURNEY WESTWARD Poem Text First Line: I began in ohio / I still dream of home Last Line: Of the sea again Subject(s): West (u.s.); Southwest; Pacific States STAGES ON A JOURNEY WESTWARD First Line: I began in ohio %I still dream of home Last Line: America plunged into the dark furrows %of the sea again Subject(s): West (u.s.) SUMAC IN OHIO First Line: Toward the end of may, the air in souther ohio is filling with fragrances TARANTO First Line: Most of the walls THE FIRST DAYS Poem Text First Line: The first thing I saw in the morning Subject(s): Bees; Pear Trees; Beekeeping; Pears THE FLYING EAGLES OF TROOP 62 Poem Text First Line: Ralph neal was the scoutmaster Last Line: The country is enough to drive you crazy Subject(s): Men; Boy Scouts; Childhood Memories THE FRUITS OF THE SEASON Poem Text First Line: It is a fresh morning of late august in padua. After the night's rain, the Last Line: I have eaten the first fruit of the season, and I am in love Subject(s): August; Love THE GHOST Poem Text First Line: I cannot live nor die Last Line: I fade to a broken hope Subject(s): Fantasy THE ICE HOUSE Poem Text First Line: The house was really a cellar deep beneath the tower of the old Subject(s): Ice Houses THE JEWEL Poem Text First Line: There is this cave Subject(s): Body, Human THE JOURNEY Poem Text First Line: Anghiari is medieval, a sleeve sloping down Subject(s): Travel; Spiders; Journeys; Trips THE MINNEAPOLIS POEM Poem Text First Line: I wonder how many old men last winter Subject(s): Minneapolis; City & Town Life; Brothers; Death; Half-brothers; Dead, The THE OLD DOG IN THE RUINS OF THE GRAVES AT ARLES Poem Text First Line: I have heard tell somewhere Last Line: The old dogs don’t know Subject(s): Animals; Dogs THE SECRET OF LIGHT Poem Text First Line: I am sitting contented and alone in a little park near the palazzo scaligere in Subject(s): Hair; Light THE WHEELING GOSPEL TABERNACLE Poem Text First Line: Homer rhodeheaver, who was the evangelist billy sunday's psalmodist Last Line: Homer had times between hymns to make some lonely widow happy Subject(s): Evangelists; God; Public Worship; Religion; Church Attendance; Theology THIS AND THAT First Line: I am not going to share THREE SENTENCES FOR A DEAD SWAN First Line: There they are now Last Line: Rise from the dead %from TIME First Line: Once, with a weak ankle, I tried to walk. All I could do was spin slowly TO A BLOSSOMING PEAR TREE Poem Text First Line: Beautiful natural blossoms, Subject(s): Pear Trees; Old Age; Pears TO A BLOSSOMING PEAR TREE First Line: Beautiful natural blossoms Last Line: Blood in my body drags me %down with my brother TO A DEFEATED SAVIOUR First Line: Do you forget the shifting hole TO A FUGITIVE First Line: The night you got away, I dreamed you rose Last Line: Dart down the alley, race between the stars TO A SALESGIRL, WEARY OF ARTIFICIAL HOLIDAY TREES First Line: The clock shows nearly five Last Line: The last girl of the year, %and one more year's far gone Subject(s): Christmas Trees TO A TROUBLED FRIEND First Line: Weep, and weep long, but do not weep for me Last Line: Beyond this frigid season's empty storms, %banished to bloom, and bear the bird's desire TO CAROLEE COOMBS-STACY, WHO SET MY VERSES TO MUSIC First Line: One afternoon a few years ago, in a mountain forest in upstate new Subject(s): Music & Musicians; Poetry & Poets TO CAROLEE COOMBS-STACY, WHO SET MY VERSES TO MUSIC First Line: One afternoon a few years ago, in a mountain forest in upstate new Last Line: I still wonder what it sounded like to the doe Subject(s): Music And Musicians; Poetry And Poets TO CRITICS, AND TO HELL WITH THEM First Line: Poets are handsome, as a rule Subject(s): Criticism & Critics; Poetry & Poets TO CRITICS, AND TO HELL WITH THEM First Line: Poets are handsome, as a rule Last Line: O, all earth shall stink with the gore %of critic cynics Subject(s): Critics And Criticism; Poetry And Poets TO FLOOD STAGE AGAIN First Line: In fargo, north dakota, a man Last Line: I open my eyes and gaze down %at the dark water Subject(s): Floods TO HARVEY, WHO TRACED THE CIRCULATION First Line: Who is that blue Last Line: I love breasts, %but I love most one soft %wing of the vein TO JUSTIFY MY SINGING First Line: I am in love with poetry Last Line: For often she has sheltered me %from many a mortal storm TO THE ADRIATIC WIND, BECALMED First Line: Come on. %shift your wings a little TO THE CICADA First Line: A few minutes ago TO THE EVENING STAR: CENTRAL MINNESOTA First Line: Under the water tower at the edge of town Last Line: The open meadows are safe TO THE GHOST OF A KITE First Line: Winter has wrecked the legend of your wings TO THE MUSE Poem Text First Line: It is all right. All they do Last Line: Come down to you TO THE MUSE First Line: It is all right. All they do Last Line: Out of the river, or I will %come down to you TO THE MUSE First Line: It is all right. All they do Last Line: Come down to you Subject(s): Love TO THE SAGUARO CACTUS TREE IN THE DESERT RAIN Poem Text First Line: I had no idea the elf owl Subject(s): Cactus TO THE SAGUARO CACTUS TREE IN THE DESERT RAIN First Line: I had no idea the elf owl TO THE SILVER SWORD SHINING ON THE EDGE OF THE CRATER First Line: Strange leaves on haleakala TODAY I WAS SO HAPPY, SO I MADE THIS POEM Poem Text First Line: As the plump squirrel scampers Subject(s): Happiness; Joy; Delight TRUE VOICE First Line: In northern minnesota the floors of the earth are covered with white sand TRYING TO PRAY Poem Text First Line: This time, I have left my body behind me, crying Subject(s): Prayer TURTLE OVERNIGHT First Line: I remember him last twilight in his comeliness. When it began to rain TWILIGHTS First Line: The big stones of the cistern behind the barn Last Line: That the branch will not break TWO HORSES PLAYING IN THE ORCHARD Poem Text First Line: Too soon, too soon, a man will come Last Line: Too soon, too soon, already. Now Subject(s): Animals TWO HORSES PLAYING IN THE ORCHARD First Line: Too soon, too soon, a man will come Subject(s): Animals TWO MOMENTS IN ROME, SELS. TWO MOMENTS IN VENICE: 1. UNDER THE CANALS First Line: All one needs to do is follow the sound of water Subject(s): Canals; Venice, Italy; Water TWO MOMENTS IN VENICE: 1. UNDER THE CANALS First Line: All one needs to do is follow the sound of water Last Line: Under the water who have more than all the time they need Subject(s): Canals; Venice, Italy; Water TWO MOMENTS IN VENICE: 2. CITY OF EVENINGS First Line: It is still too early for evening, and the smoke of early september is gath Subject(s): Cities; Venice, Italy; Urban Life TWO MOMENTS IN VENICE: 2. CITY OF EVENINGS First Line: It is still too early for evening, and the smoke of early september is gath Last Line: Covered the true shape of evening, and now it is almost evening Subject(s): Cities; Venice, Italy TWO POEMS ABOUT PRESIDENT HARDING: 1. HIS DEATH First Line: In marion, the honey locust trees are falling Last Line: He died in public. He claimed the secret right %to be ashamed TWO POEMS ABOUT PRESIDENT HARDING: 2. HIS TOMB IN OHIO First Line: A hundred slag piles north of us Last Line: The hearts of men are merciless TWO POSTURES BESIDE A FIRE: 1 First Line: Tonight I watch my father's hair Last Line: And rests, shadowing his lovely face TWO POSTURES BESIDE A FIRE: 2 First Line: Nobly his hands fold together in his repose Last Line: Twitch nervously about VAIN ADVICE AT YEAR'S END First Line: The shadows blown from trees Last Line: As long as the light words last, %and darkening winter stars VARIATIONS: THE AIR IS SWEETEST THAT A THISTLE GUARDS VENICE First Line: Crumbling into this world Last Line: In his frigid hands, just barely, just just barely not wringing %the swan's neck VESTAL IN THE FORUM First Line: This morning I do not despair Last Line: I can almost name WHAT DOES THE BOBWHITE MEAN? First Line: I don't know WHAT DOES THE KING OF THE JUNGLE TRULY DO? First Line: What is the true love of a lion? WHAT THE EARTH ASKED ME First Line: Why did you kiss the girl who cried Last Line: No good to me, no good to me WHEELING GOSPEL TABERNACLE First Line: Homer rhodeheaver, who was the evangelist billy sunday's psalmodist Last Line: Little I know. I can pitch a pretty fair tune myself, for all I know Subject(s): Evangelists; God; Public Worship; Religion WHEREVER HOME IS First Line: Leonardo da vinci, haggard in basalt stone WILLY LYONS First Line: My uncle, a craftsman of hammers and wood Last Line: Willy, and john, whose life and art, if any, %I never knew WINTER DAYBREAK ABOVE VENCE First Line: The night's drifts %pile up below me and behind my back Last Line: Now we are all sitting here strangely %on top of the sunlight WINTER, BASSANO DEL GRAPPA First Line: Underground, the hair WITH A SLIVER OF MARBLE FROM CARRARA Poem Text First Line: Old men beneath the mountain Last Line: Could not live long enough Subject(s): Sculpture & Sculptors WITH A SLIVER OF MARBLE FROM CARRARA First Line: Old men beneath the mountain Last Line: Even he %could not live long enough Subject(s): Sculpture And Sculptors WITH THE GIFT OF A FRESH NEW NOTEBOOK I FOUND IN FLORENCE First Line: On the other side of the bridge WITH THE GIFT OF AN ALABASTER TORTOISE First Line: One afternoon, we stole WITH THE SHELL OF A HERMIT CRAB Poem Text First Line: This lovely little life whose toes Last Line: Stars in a wilderness of stars Subject(s): Crabs WITH THE SHELL OF A HERMIT CRAB First Line: This lovely little life whose toes Last Line: Stars in a wilderness of stars Subject(s): Crabs WRITTEN IN A COPY OF SWIFT'S POEMS, FOR WAYNE BURNS First Line: I promised once if I got hold of Last Line: Beyond the range of horses' asses, %nobilities, light, light and air WRITTEN ON A BIG CHEAP POSTCARD FROM VERONA First Line: Here they are on the balcony YES, BUT First Line: Even if it were true Last Line: Long ago. %we breathe light YOU AND I SAW HAWKS EXCHANGING THE PREY First Line: They did the deed of darkness YOUNG DON'T WANT TO BE BORN First Line: I know just how you feel. There was a time when your YOUNG WOMEN AT CHARTRES First Line: Halfway through morning YOUR NAME IN AREZZO First Line: Five years ago I gouged it after dark YOUTH Poem Text First Line: Strange bird Last Line: Than he is, or I am Subject(s): Fathers; Industry; Labor & Laborers; Work; Workers YOUTH First Line: Strange bird Last Line: The waters flow past, older, younger %than he is, or I am Subject(s): Fathers; Industry; Labor And Laborers Wright (1643-1713), James 5 poems available by this author A POEM, BEING AN ESSAY ON THE RUINS IN ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL Poem Text First Line: Was it a vain curiosity or no? Last Line: A beauty grow out of deformity? Subject(s): London Fire (1666); St. Paul's Cathedral, London; Great Fire Of 1666 ECCLESIA RESTAURTA; .. REBUILDING OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL Poem Text First Line: What beauteous tumor's this, with royal grace Last Line: And beauty, equals their magnificence. Subject(s): London Fire (1666); St. Paul's Cathedral, London; Great Fire Of 1666 PHOENIX PAULINA Poem Text First Line: I, he whose infant-muse did heretofore Last Line: Down to whose soul even heaven itself descends. Subject(s): St. Paul's Cathedral, London THE CHOIRE Poem Text First Line: Th' almighty architect forms in mankind Last Line: Twas fiction then, but now we see it, here. Subject(s): London Fire (1666); St. Paul's Cathedral, London; Great Fire Of 1666 THE CUPULO Poem Text First Line: Westward from fair augusta's city, lies Last Line: And many copper-smiths will do thee right. Subject(s): St. Paul's Cathedral, London |
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