Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DROUTH, by C. E. SHUFORD First Line: Heat is big-breasted Last Line: She laughs until morning. Alternate Author Name(s): Shuford, Gene Subject(s): Drought | ||||||||
Heat is big-breasted belly-sprawled to earth the old cow bawls in the orchard dry dry dry the apples are rotten come, heat, you are animal all female and broad-hipped the oak leaves are dying hot little tongues of flame earth is barren over all, the heat presses down a dying poplar droops in the pallid sky the earth is barren dead the old mother of the dead days slack-breasted, wearied men turn from her lift blackened mouths lift eyeballs blood-red the wound of the sky is open paints the hills bloody but above, a white hot blue in the quivering jelly of heat a tractor clanks its futile plows the dust hangs above, no wind an old man sucking the stumps of his gums shakes his fist at horror strikes nothing, the hand slides through heat there is a faint mew from the house the windmill hangs, an idle sail the old man's ruined face runs shrieking to barn as if the body did not follow as if legs were not there, maddened arms not there, frenzied feet not there but all were eyes all matted beard all lips, cracked by heat all tongue, blackened, death-hungry the ropes slide over the rafter with a faint groan the spasm of the heels drums the wall, then no sound house is silent too but at dark it begins rich, throaty, gurgling of stream long dammed sound strong and big-breasted it is the young wife laughing within the house she props herself on one elbow wakes the baby so he can suck can snort like a young colt half asleep knead the heavy teats drooping above him and paw her side watching him, she laughs he is the seed the old man has planted -- rears herself slowly, and her big body swaying pads through the dark house to the kitchen window can see it there, swaying from the hay mow it spins idly, a faint breeze has come up has not cooled the stars, they are big and pointed like white-hot nails, breeze cannot cool them in the darkness the woman stands laughing all night the woman stands there, naked her big body drips sweat, she is heat heat lying upon the land, crops burned up dust devils dancing, cattle dying for water her breasts shake as she stands against the stars is laughing, there is more seed in her the old man planted it, no need of him further let him spin from his rafter the land is barren is dead come heat come heat come heat you have taken the land, it is yours the woman stands laughing in darkness she laughs until morning. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CA'LINE'S PRAYER by LUCILLE CLIFTON SAN ANTONIO MI SANGRE: FROM THE HARD SEASON by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE DESERT PARABLE by ELEANOR WILNER KINGFISHER FLAT by WILLIAM EVERSON THE BROKEN DROUGHT by ROBERT FROST CANE: NOVEMBER COTTON FLOWER by JEAN TOOMER DESERT WIFE by NELLIE COOLEY ALDER DROUTH WILL BE ENDED by GLADYS NAOMI ARNOLD |
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