Classic and Contemporary Poetry
REMORSE, by JOHN COWPER POWYS Poet's Biography First Line: I wrote my remorse on a forest-leaf Last Line: I shall never know! Subject(s): Egypt; Grief; Remorse; Sea; Sphinx; Wind; Sorrow; Sadness; Ocean | ||||||||
I wrote my remorse on a forest-leaf That the wind might bear it to you; But the wind cared nothing for my grief And over your roof it flew. I wrote my remorse on a leaf for you; But you never knew. I wrote my remorse on the glimmering sand Where your tired feet might stray; But the sea rose up and covered the land And carried my words away. I wrote my remorse on the sand for you; But you never knew. I wrote my remorse on the breast Of the Sphinx with the woman's eyes; And your name remained -- but the rest, the rest Turned sorcery and lies! I wrote on the Sphinx's breast for you; But you never knew. And now, when you weep o'er the spot Where, earth in earth, I rot, Do you read, as the rank-grown grass you pull, What remorse has a grinning skull? And do you laugh too and let all go? I shall never know! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HALL OF OCEAN LIFE by JOHN HOLLANDER JULY FOURTH BY THE OCEAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE FIGUREHEAD by LEONIE ADAMS |
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