Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VIRTUE, by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VIRTUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now? Why -- / whirlpools of / orange and purple flame
Last Line: Gold watch chains. Come!
Subject(s): Conduct Of Life


Now? Why --
whirlpools of
orange and purple flame
feather twists of chrome
on a green ground
funneling down upon
the steaming phallus-head
of the mad sun himself --
blackened crimson!
Now?

Why --
it is the smile of her
the smell of her
the vulgar inviting mouth of her!
It is -- Oh, nothing new
nothing that lasts
an eternity, nothing worth
putting out to interest,
nothing --
but the fixing of an eye
concretely upon emptiness!

Come! here are --
cross-eyed men, a boy
with a patch, men walking
in their shirts, men in hats
dark men, a pale man
with little black moustaches
and a dirty white coat,
fat men with pudgy faces,
thin faces, crooked faces
slit eyes, grey eyes, black eyes
old men with dirty beards,
men in vests with
gold watch chains. Come!





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