Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MAD PHILOSOPHER, by CALE YOUNG RICE Poet's Biography First Line: They let him wander as he will Last Line: Of his poor mind's imaginings. Subject(s): God; Insanity; Love; Philosophy & Philosophers; Madness; Mental Illness | ||||||||
They let him wander as he will By wood and river, vale and hill, Though snapped by madness are the strings Of his wan mind's imaginings. And often his sad spirit's breath Will chant of life and love and death, Twanging upon the broken ends Of strings that some chance moment mends. 'The harlot moon still clings to earth,' He croons, 'though love's of little worth. Cold as the spirit of a star Her lips and eyes and bosom are.... 'Within some sky beyond the sky There is a whisper, Why, Why, Why? If I could climb the wind to it, Of frenzied earth should soon be quit.... 'A person lives that men call God. I caught Him once within a clod. He is not really God at all, But only atoms that can crawl.... 'Hey diddle, many sorrows be Within the womb of destiny. That's why the thrush will chant all day -- To keep from hearing men who pray.... 'The sweet, sweet herb of happiness Grows ever less, and less, and less. I'm sure it is because men look At their own image in the brook.... 'A bride is such a lily thing; She lets you bind her with a ring. I see Queen Gwin and Lancelot -- But Arthur's face is all a blot.... 'Lean down and I will tell you why The stars are lighted in the sky. They are for tapers on the bier Of -- hush! don't say it: He is near.... 'The owl is hooting what o'clock The Judgment Day at last shall knock. But time who whips us to the grave Is the one saviour who can save.... 'I'll vow it, though to Hell I'm sunk: God with the whole world's tears is drunk. That's why He is not God at all But only atoms that can crawl.... 'Aye, doubt! But when the lightning's knout Splits the sky's skull do Brains fall out? There's sun and moon and sky and sea And worm and ape -- and you and me.... 'Yet if you love a maid then all The atoms do not seem to crawl So heartlessly: though why it is Can be no business of His.' ... So sings he in the little whiles That health again half on him smiles, Twanging the sadly broken strings Of his poor mind's imaginings. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PARENTS OF PSYCHOTIC CHILDREN by MARVIN BELL VISITS TO ST. ELIZABETHS by ELIZABETH BISHOP FOR THE MAD by LUCILLE CLIFTON STONEHENGE by ALBERT GOLDBARTH DAY ROOM: ST. ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL by MICHAEL S. HARPER SEELE IN RAUM by RANDALL JARRELL A CHARM TO BRING CHILDREN (EGYPT, A.D. 100) by CALE YOUNG RICE |
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