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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
QUESTION AND ANSWER, by JAMES KENNETH STEPHEN Poet's Biography First Line: The river is flowing Last Line: Not me why I laugh! Alternate Author Name(s): Stephen, J. K. Subject(s): Laughter; Nature | |||
THE QUESTION THE river is flowing, The stars coming forth: Great ruddy clouds going From westward to north. The rushes are waving, The water's still blue: And I am behaving Decorously too: The amorous zephyr Breathes soft in our ear: Who hears not is deafer Than adders, my dear: Ah! list to the whisper Of waters and sky! Thames, vagabond lisper Grows subtle and sly. How trebly delicious The air-draughts we quaff: The hour is propitious: Oh! ... why do you laugh? THE ANSWER Ask the sky why it flushes, The clouds why they glow: The weir why it gushes, The reeds why they grow: The moon why it rises, The sun why it sets: Her why she surprises, Him why he forgets: The star why it twinkles, The west why it shines: The brow why it wrinkles, The heart why it pines: Mankind why they blunder, The corn why there's chaff: Ask yourself why you wonder Not me why I laugh! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INTERRUPTED MEDITATION by ROBERT HASS TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS THE FATALIST: HOME by LYN HEJINIAN WRITING IS AN AID TO MEMORY: 17 by LYN HEJINIAN LET US GATHER IN A FLOURISHING WAY by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA IN MICHAEL ROBINS?ÇÖS CLASS MINUS ONE by HICOK. BOB BREADTH. CIRCLE. DESERT. MONARCH. MONTH. WISDOM by JOHN HOLLANDER VARIATIONS: 16 by CONRAD AIKEN UNHOLY SONNET 13 by MARK JARMAN A SONNET by JAMES KENNETH STEPHEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA: 1. ON A RHINE STEAMER by JAMES KENNETH STEPHEN |
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