Dictionary Poems

[They picked him up in the grass where he had lain two days in the rain with a piece of shrapnel in his lungs.] COME to me only with playthings now. . .A picture of a singing woman with blue eyesStanding at a fence of hollyhocks, poppies and sunflowers. . .Or an old man I … Continued

The sound of the closing outside door was all.You made no sound in the grass with your footfall,As far as you went from the door, which was not far;But had awakened under the morning starThe first song-bird that awakened all the rest.He could have slept but a moment more at best.Already determined dawn began to … Continued

WHAT are we set on earth for ? Say, to toil;Nor seek to leave thy tending of the vinesFor all the heat o’ the day, till it declines,And Death’s mild curfew shall from work assoil.God did anoint thee with his odorous oil,To wrestle, not to reign; and He assignsAll thy tears over, like pure crystallines,For … Continued

The moon was but a chin of gold A night or two ago,And now she turns her perfect face Upon the world below. Her forehead is of amplest blond; Her cheek like beryl stone;Her eye unto the summer dew The likest I have known. Her lips of amber never part; But what must be the … Continued

God gave a loaf to every bird,But just a crumb to me;I dare not eat it, though I starve, —My poignant luxuryTo own it, touch it, prove the featThat made the pellet mine, —Too happy in my sparrow chanceFor ampler coveting. It might be famine all around,I could not miss an ear,Such plenty smiles upon … Continued

And Urizen read in his Book of Brass in sounding tones: —`Listen, O Daughters, to my voice! listen to the words of wisdom!Compel the Poor to live upon a crust of bread by soft mild arts:So shall you govern over all. Let Moral Duty tune your tongue,But be your hearts harder than the nether millstone;To … Continued

How the old mountains drip with sunset, And the brake of dun!How the hemlocks are tipped in tinsel By the wizard sun! How the old steeples hand the scarlet, Till the ball is full, —Have I the lip of the flamingo That I dare to tell? Then, how the fire ebbs like billows, Touching all … Continued

Love is anterior to life, Posterior to death,Initial of creation, and The exponent of breath. – LOVE – Love is anterior to life by Emily Dickinson

I took my power in my hand.And went against the world;‘T was not so much as David had,But I was twice as bold. I aimed my pebble, but myselfWas all the one that fell.Was it Goliath was too large,Or only I too small? – THE DUEL – I took my power in my hand. by … Continued

And an astronomer said, Master, what of Time? And he answered: You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable. You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons. Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing. … Continued