Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN NEW YORK: 5. HOME, by WILLIAM ALEXANDER PERCY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN NEW YORK: 5. HOME, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have a need of silence and of stars
Last Line: And then -- the summer stars . . . I will go home.
Variant Title(s): Home
Subject(s): Eyes; Faith; Home; Life; Love; Silence; Belief; Creed


I have a need of silence and of stars;
Too much is said too loudly; I am dazed.
The silken sound of whirled infinity
Is lost in voices shouting to be heard.
I once knew men as earnest and less shrill.
An undermeaning that I caught I miss
Among these ears that hear all sounds save silence,
These eyes that see so much but not the sky,
These minds that gain all knowledge but no calm.
If suddenly the desperate music ceased,
Could they return to life? or would they stand
In dancers' attitudes, puzzled, polite,
And striking vaguely hand on tired hand
For an encore, to fill the ghastly pause?
I do not know. Some rhythm there may be
I cannot hear. But I -- oh, I must go
Back where the breakers of deep sunlight roll
Across flat fields that love and touch the sky;
Back to the more of earth, the less of man,
Where there is still a plain simplicity,
And friendship, poor in everything but love,
And faith, unwise, unquestioned, but a star.
Soon now the peace of summer will be there
With cloudy fire of myrtles in full bloom;
And, when the marvelous wide evenings come,
Across the molten river one can see
The misty willow-green of Arcady.
And then -- the summer stars . . . I will go home.





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