Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SCHERZO, by JACQUES LECLERCQ


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SCHERZO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: You do not know what wonder
Last Line: Will you care?
Subject(s): Animals; Horses; Jokes


You do not know what wonder
I shall pour on your name --
I will raise it as a flame
With the wind blowing under,
I will make it break as thunder
With high heaven for a frame,
There is nothing I dare not do
For you.

I shall conquer my pride,
I shall brave the scorn I fear,
One moment will make clear
Every hope I hide,
One moment will lay bare
The dream I hold most dear,
All I own will be your share
When our fates decide
If you chide at what you hear or if you care.

Let the sky be brave,
Let the night be clear,
Let the bludgeons of moonlight swirl and veer,
Or be poised and hover, perilously near,
Ready for the blows that buffet and stave
The white-bellied horses of the outgoing tide,
As they prance . . .
as they dance . . .
as they gallop . . .
as they ride

Wave on foaming wave . . .

(There is nothing the shyest man dare not do
When moonlight traces out a path for you!)

Let the sky be brave,
Let the night be clear,
Let moonlight there,
Let the gold-flecked air grow atremble at the riot
Of the stars' despair . . .
And let all things be quiet:
(There is nothing the shyest man dare not do
When moonlight pierces the senses through!)

I bring no costly gift
To lie lavishly beside
Casks others lift,
Gold others bear,
I bring no jewel, no gem that is rare,
Nor feather, nor rose, nor ribbon for your hair,
Nor crimson-colored ribbon you may wear in your hair --
I bring for gift
But a song that passes, swift
And gleaming through the air . . .
and lost:
Spindrift!

A word half-spoken
To be taken for token,
A snatch of a song
Scattered ere long
And no heart broken;
A boy's kiss pressed
On your white, proud breast,
And silence for the rest . . .

Will you care?





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