Classic and Contemporary Poetry
INSCRIPTION FOR A GRAVE, by ELMER GUSTAFSON First Line: All is enclosed here: the winds of time Last Line: Place of healing for sore bruises, surgery for ancient scars. Subject(s): Graves; Tombs; Tombstones | ||||||||
All is enclosed here: the winds of time Shall not ruffle the gray serenity of this Last housing. What the intimate bitter world Once dallied with is in impervious garments Wrapped, regarding with calm, sightless eyes All jeers and seeking smiles, brooding and carousing. No luring lips nor gesturing of women Shall move to any answer this mouth finally Set in repulse of all life gives and love implies. No pleading voice nor street corner's urgent drum Could summon now to desire for Abraham's bosom, Nor ringing bugle to passionate empty wars This which long since put off accustomed shivering For a new warmth received with eager thankfulness; An enclosure that shuts out, keeps in, protects -- Place of healing for sore bruises, surgery for ancient scars. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SUBJECTED EARTH by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE GRAVE OF MRS. HEMANS by CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER THOSE GRAVES IN ROME by LARRY LEVIS NOT TO BE DWELLED ON by HEATHER MCHUGH ONE LAST DRAW OF THE PIPE by PAUL MULDOON ETRUSCAN TOMB by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL AT WAILING TIME by ELMER GUSTAFSON |
|