I know some people will groan but here it is:
Ars Poetica
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit,
Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb,
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown--
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds.
as the f*
as the fA poem should be motionless in time
as the fAs the moon climbs,
as the fLeaving, as the moon releases
as the fTwig by twig the night-entangled trees,
as the fLeaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves.
as the fMemory by memory the mind--
as the fA poem should be motionless in time
as the fAs the moon climbs.
as the f*
as the fA poem should be equal to:
as the fNot true.
as the fFor all the history of grief
as the fAn empty doorway and a maple leaf.
as the fFor love
as the fThe leaning grasses and two lights above the sea--
as the fA poem should not mean
as the fBut be.
Archibald Macleish
[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited February 28, 2006).]
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