Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SUCH SIMPLE LOVE, by THOMAS MCGRATH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SUCH SIMPLE LOVE, by         Recitation by Author             Poet's Biography
First Line: All night long I hear the sleepers toss
Last Line: No one is warm
Subject(s): Animals; Cats; Love; Sleep


All night long I hear the sleepers toss
Between the darkened window and the wall.
The madman's whimper and the lover's voice,
The worker's whisper and the sick child's call --
Knowing them all

I'd walk a mile, maybe, hearing some cat
Crying its guts out, to throttle it by hand,
Such simple love I had. I wished I might --
Or God might -- answer each call in person and
Each poor demand.

Well, I'd have been better off sleeping myself.
These fancies had some sentimental charm,
But love without direction is a cheap blanket
And even if it did no one any harm,
No one is warm.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org




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