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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FRAGMENTS WRITTEN WHILE TRAVELING...A MIDWESTERN HEAT WAVE, by JAMES GALVIN Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: However lonely we were before / becomes unclear Last Line: By setting-free the soil Subject(s): Farm Life; Heat; Middle West; Oklahoma; Summer; Weather; Agriculture; Farmers; Midwest; Old Northwest; Central States; North Central States | |||
1. However lonely we were before Becomes unclear In our next loneliness. All summer long the rain Stayed west of the mountains. 2. Underneath this landscape of sighs Is a landscape of feathers, One of blood, and yes, A landscape of earth and trees and sky. The soil of Oklahoma Is leaving again. Heaven is west of where it falls. 3. Down here in the level world Oil rigs make love To the earth beneath the wheat. All afternoon the wind blows hot. The river is a piece of dirty string. Like huge somnambulating farmers, Dust-devils work the fallow ground. 4. The real farmers Disc their fields on tractors With hopeful, yellow umbrellas And raise white flags of surrender Which keep the flying ants From swarming near their faces. 5. I'll tell you what the soul is made of: More dust. Behind each harrow In each field A plume takes to the wind. The farmers, At last, Are freeing themselves By setting free the soil. 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 ROAN HORSE' by CARL SANDBURG CRICKET MARCH by CARL SANDBURG JUST BEFORE APRIL CAME by CARL SANDBURG MAN AND DOG ON AN EARLY WINTER MORNING by CARL SANDBURG A DISCRETE LOVE POEM by JAMES GALVIN |
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