Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MALEDICTION, by JAMES HARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MALEDICTION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Man's not a singing animal
Last Line: Rivet his stone with worms.
Alternate Author Name(s): Harrison, Jim
Subject(s): Cold; Curses; Pain; Self-pity; Singing & Singers; Suffering; Misery; Songs


Man's not a singing animal,
his tongue hangs from a wall --
pinch the stone
to make a moan
from the throat
a single note
breaks the air
so bare and harsh
birds die.

He's crab-necked from cold,
song splits his voice
like a lake's ice cracking.
His heart's a rock,
a metronome, a clock,
a foghorn drone of murder.

God, curse this self-maimed beast,
the least of creatures,
rivet his stone with worms.





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