Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ANTI-SUNDAY-SERMON, by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG Poet's Biography First Line: The quickest way to maim an artist Last Line: I faithfully still believe! Subject(s): God; Sabbath; Sermons; Sunday | ||||||||
The quickest way to maim an artist is everlastingly to remind him of something he did yesterday invariably of obvious appeal and ephemeral duration: I faithfully believe that if God got a little respite from the deafening hosannahs of unanimous idolaters, it would afford the Old Man a chance to refresh Himself for the invention of something desperately new, if not better, desperately needed to-day: To be eternally hailed: "Old Chap, shake a hand with me, You've never done and You'll never do another piece of sculpture like that little group, the Adam and Eva -- the most delicious thing ever shown on the Avenue -- folk raving about it everywhere, the dealers all vying in the exhibition of replicas every Sunday, Sunday mornings, Sunday noons, Sunday afternoons, Sunday evenings, Sunday nights -- the critics frantically debating the merits and demerits as represented by the wholesale reproductions -- disagreeing about details, to be sure -- one or two with the particular audacity to brand this or that example, a fake -- but all agreeing absolutely that the original -- when You first set thumbs to the clay -- well, You're a wonder, Old Top, a marvel, a miracle, nobody like You, shake!" Not even the devil, that one-time dissenter, seems to have the energy to prick the Old Man into action, provoke Him with inspiration -- so for God's sake and ours! -- I exhort you! -- give the Poor Fellow a chance! -- allow Him His day of rest! -- even the space of a breath will do, I faithfully still believe! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DAT GAL O' MINE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SUNDAY: NEW GUINEA by KARL SHAPIRO SABBATHS: 2001 by WENDELL BERRY SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY by PAUL BLACKBURN THE SABBATH OF THE SOUL by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD FESTOONS OF FISHES by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG PEEWEE by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG ..... AND WHITE THE WHITE INVOKES by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG |
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