Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE MUSIC HALL by JOHN RODKER

First Line: THE GROUP SOUL ANGUISHED DRIVES UP TO THE VANE
Last Line: BUT OH . . . THE HUNGER. . . .

The group soul anguished drives up to the vane;
Shivers over the clamant band,
And tremulously sinks upon its padded seat, . . .
With such a pleasant shiver of the bowels.
(The first faint peristalt . . .)
And a thin hunger somewhere.
Beauty or woman; something not over-rare
That will absorb the thrill, the gushing energic thrill. . . .
We watch and smoke . . . our trembling hands
That flutter for a space an arc of light
With acrid trailing fume. . . .
But oh . . . the hunger. . . .



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