Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MARRIAGE GHAZAL, by JAMES HARRISON


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MARRIAGE GHAZAL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hammering & drifting. Sea wrack. Cast upon & cast out
Last Line: In an arc when she sat & they built a boat together.
Alternate Author Name(s): Harrison, Jim
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


Hammering & drifting. Sea wrack. Cast upon & cast out.
Who's here but shore? Where we stop is where shore is.

I saw the light beyond mountains turned umber by morning.
I walked by memory as if I had no legs. Or head.

In a bed of reeds I found my body and entered it,
taking my life upon myself, the soul made comfortable.

So the body's a nest for the soul and we set out inland,
the figure of a walker who only recognized the sea and moon.

And coming to the first town the body became a chorus --
O my god this is a place or thing and I'll stay awhile.

The body met a human with fur and the moon mounted her head
in an arc when she sat & they built a boat together.





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