Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BODY, by JAMES OPPENHEIM


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BODY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Body, whence come mind and soul?
Last Line: Flood-gate of the race: and shores of my sea of spirit.
Subject(s): Bodies


BODY, whence come mind and soul?

"Ah," said the Body, "from me:
I am a tree, and mind and soul are the fruit...
Ages of fecund weather and nourishing dark experience,
And the strong sun of love and hate,
And rain of gray adversity,
Have begotten at last, you, loved wonder immortal!"

If this be so, my body,
I shall despise you no longer: but revere you and watch over you:
Flood-gate of the race: and shores of my sea of spirit.





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