Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ESCAPE, by JOHN COWPER POWYS Poet's Biography First Line: In the dreadful city's roar Last Line: Far from these clattering stones. Subject(s): Bones; Cities; Escapes; Lakes; Trees; Urban Life; Fugitives; Pools; Ponds | ||||||||
In the dreadful city's roar I have my clue to peace; And I carry it evermore, And it always brings release. 'Tis a spot which I once found, Bordered by grasses tall, Where a garden touches a burying-ground, And elm-tree shadows fall. Here I can feel my bones Mouldering one by one, Far from the rattle of wheels on stones, While the slowly-mounting sun Gleams on the slope of the hill And shines on the stream beyond; And the village maidens bend and fill Their buckets at the pond. And the people little guess As they pass me in train and car, Why I stretch my legs, and press My hands together, and stare -- They can see not the slope of the hill; They can see not the stream beyond; They can see not the elm-tree hushed and still, Nor the buckets at the pond -- They know not how tender-sweet It is to feel one's bones With honest earth-mould mingle, and meet, In the dust, with delicate hands and feet, Far from these clattering stones. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MAN GETS OFF WORK EARLY by THOMAS LUX THE FRIARY AT BLOSSOM, PROLOGUE & INSTRUCTIONS by NORMAN DUBIE SONGS FOR TWO SEASONS: 2. RED POND by CAROL FROST |
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