Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THICK BLACK SHADOWS, by REBECCA ZEH



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THICK BLACK SHADOWS, by                    
First Line: The thick, black shadows
Last Line: And six feet of yellow clay!
Subject(s): Shadows


The thick, black shadows,
Falling on the grass,
Fall so dark and heavy
That I cannot pass;
That I cannot pass
Or force my way through
Back to air and sunlight
And back to you.

Black, black shadows,
And six feet of yellow clay
Hinder me, and choke me,
And stand in my way.
Six feet of solid clay
Make it damp and dark,
And I cannot hear the robin,
I cannot hear the lark.
I can hear you weeping
Up above my head
But I cannot answer you,
For all my strength has fled.
I can only lie in my cold narrow bed,
Just as still and quiet,
As though I were dead.
God! As though I were dead!

Black, black shadows,
And six feet of yellow clay
Keep me from knowing
The night from the day,
And how can you expect me
To try to force my way
Through such thick, black shadows,
And six feet of solid clay?
How can you expect me
To break such heavy sod?
How can you expect me
To get back to God?

Black, black shadows,
And six feet of yellow clay,
Hold me, and hinder me
From going on my way.
Sweetheart, sweetheart,
Kneel you down and pray
That once again I hear the lark,
And see the light of day.

Black, black shadows,
And six feet of yellow clay!





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