Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ADONIS, by HILDA DOOLITTLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ADONIS, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Each of us like you
Last Line: Fit to be worshiped.
Alternate Author Name(s): H. D.; Aldington, Richard, Mrs.
Subject(s): Bible


I

EACH of us like you
has died once,
each of us like you
has passed through drift of wood-leaves
cracked and bent
and tortured and unbent
in the winter frost—
then burnt into gold points,
lighted afresh,
crisp amber, scales of gold-leaf,
gold turned and re-welded
in the sun-heat.

Each of us like you
has died once,
each of us has crossed an old wood-path
and found the winter leaves
so golden in the sun-fire
that even the live wood-flowers
were dark.

II

Not the gold on the temple-front
where you stand
is as gold as this,
not the gold that fastens your sandal,
nor the gold reft
through your chiseled locks
is as gold as this last year's leaf,
not all the gold hammered and wrought
and beaten
on your lover's face,
brow and bare breast
is as golden as this.

Each of us like you
has died once,
each of us like you
stands apart, like you
fit to be worshiped.





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