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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


GIFTS by HANIEL (CLARK) LONG

Poet Analysis

First Line: I MUST HAVE MANY A GOLDEN MOON
Last Line: AN INFANT ON MY KNEE.

I must have many a golden moon
With mermaids and the sea,
And many a summer afternoon
With peacocks calling me,

And mottled pythons, too, to sleep
Along an onyx stair,
And gaze at me with vision deep,
Sluggish, unaware.

And that I may pursue the guile
Of the remote and strange,
Perhaps I'll need a crocodile,
A panther, for a change.

Caesar and Mephistopheles
Must sit with me at board,
My clown against the Devil's knees
Jesting with Caesar's sword.

But bring, when you have done with these,
Still further gifts to me -
A girl to love, a group of trees,
An infant on my knee.



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