Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A HALF-CASTE PRAYS, by GORDON LECLAIRE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A HALF-CASTE PRAYS, by                    
First Line: Forgive, o god, the occidental anger'
Last Line: "subdue my soul to match these almond eyes!"


"Forgive, O God, the occidental anger
Fomenting through these veins, a seething flood,
Which vies with cool of oriental languor
To form a bristling murk in mongrel blood.

The East and West, though twain, in me commingle,
Yet each reviles me and I brood alone --
The earth affords no corner for my ingle,
No pillow for my head but hatred's stone!

Why must this body white as any mortal's
Forever be forsworn by eyes that slant?
Why must this heart-bird dash convention's portals,
Foredoomed as any sea-mad cormorant?

Forgive, O All-Wise Father, if I wonder
Why You Who made of one blood humankind,
Predestined me to be a living blunder
In whom two separate bloods war fiercely blind.

Oh Christian God, I'd hail this hybrid chrism
As one whom cleansing tongues of fire baptize,
If You would only halt this vengeful schism --
Subdue my soul to match these almond eyes!"





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net