Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WANDERER; A ROCOCO STUDY: CLARITY, by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WANDERER; A ROCOCO STUDY: CLARITY, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Come!' cried my mind and by her might
Last Line: "I will take my peace in her henceforth!"
Subject(s): Wandering & Wanderers


"Come!" cried my mind and by her might
That was upon us we flew above the river
Seeking her, grey gulls among the white --
In the air speaking as she had willed it;
"I am given," cried I, "now I know it!
I know now all my time is forespent!
For me one face is all the world!
For I have seen her at last, this day,
In whom age in age is united --
Indifferent, out of sequence, marvelously!
Saving alone that one sequence
Which is the beauty of all the world, for surely
Either there in the rolling smoke spheres below us
Or here with us in the air intercircling,
Certainly somewhere here about us
I know she is revealing these things!"
And as gulls we flew and with soft cries
We seemed to speak, flying, "It is she
The mighty, recreating the whole world,
This is the first day of wonders!

She is attiring herself before me --
Taking shape before me for worship,
A red leaf that falls upon a stone!
It is she of whom I told you, old
Forgiveless, unreconcilable;
That high wanderer of by-ways
Walking imperious in beggary!
At her throat is loose gold, a single chain
From among many, on her bent fingers
Are rings from which the stones are fallen,
Her wrists wear a diminished state, her ankles
Are bare! Toward the river! Is it she there?"
And we swerved clamorously downward --
"I will take my peace in her henceforth!"





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