Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ESCUTCHEON, by HALA JEAN HAMMOND



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ESCUTCHEON, by                    
First Line: Something of the abundance of trees, of woods, of deep wells
Last Line: The perfect ...
Subject(s): Begging & Beggars; Poverty


Something of the abundance of trees, of woods, of deep wells
Of life too full for living—is within me.
Something of power too vast for infinite grasp
Something of death—too terrible
To look upon—
Not desiring;
Something so high like migratory birds swiftly
Unerringly knowing where the rushes lean
Their wings shaped, their breasts glowing
With purpose drawn of cabled gold
To heart's madness
Remotely held;
Teasing days with copper allurements of altering shape;
Nights crowding with brilliant schemes foregone and glory
Fusing into petaled stars—the end
Remembering—evermore to eye
Cajoling, taunting,
Threatening;
Starved notes of half-strung violin are not enough.
Symphonic fullness must to me—only searches
The Beggar. His to find what lordliness disdained;
A paradise locked hard within
The soul waits freeing stroke
Of wizardry.
How do I know? .. Because I am the Beggar.
How do I know? .. I walk in squalid rags
With broidered gorgeousness beneath them. Silver soles
Clinging to my sandals. I am all
And Everyman
Embodied.

Something of the abundance of trees, of air, of deep wells
Fulness of life in me—
Holding in my starving breast—
The Perfect ...





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