Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PRELUDES, by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PRELUDES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If you stand where I stand
Last Line: I must first dry my face!
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Relationships


If you stand where I stand —
in my boudoir —
(don't mind my shaving —
I can't afford a barber) —
you can see into her boudoir —
you can see milady —
her back, her green smock, the bench she loves —
her hair always down in the morning —
(the sun conspiring with the curtains?) —
reddish brown,
with ringlets at the tips —
the hairdresser called this A. M. —
him I have to, I want to afford.
Unhappily, you can't see her face —
only the back of her small round head —
and a glint of her ears, two glints —
but her hands, alas, not her hands, though
happily, you can hear them.
It isn't a clavichord —
only a satinwood square —
bought cheap at an auction —
but it might be, you'd think it,
a clavichord, bequeathed by the past —
it sounds quite like feathers.
Bach? Yes, who else could that be —
whom else would you have in the morning —
with the sun and milady?
Grave? Yes, but so is the sun —
not always? No, but please don't ponder —
listen, hear the theme —
hear it dig into the earth of harmonies.
A dissonance? No, 'twas only a stone —
which powders into particles with the rest.
Now follow the theme —
down, down, into the soil —
calling, evoking the spirit of birth —
you hear those new tones —
that sprinkle, that burst —
roulade and arpeggio?
Gently now, firmly —
with solemn persuasion —
hiding a whimsic raillery —
(does a dead king raise his forefinger?) —
though they would, though they might —
no phrase can escape —
the theme, the theme rules.
Unhappy? Nay, nay —
they ought to be happy —
each is because of, in spite of, the other —
that is democracy.
He can't spare a particle —
that priest of the morning sun —
A mistake? Yes indeed, but —
all the more human —
would you have her drum like a schoolmaster —
abominable right note at the right time —
in the morning, so early —
or ever at all?
She'll play it again —
oh don't, please don't clap —
you'll disturb them!
Here, try my tobacco —
good, a deep pipeful, eh? —
an aromatic blend —
my other extravagance —
yes, I'll join you, but wait —
I must first dry my face!





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