Section: «Poems»

Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings: artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.); a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").

Questions Of Travel

There are too many waterfalls here; the crowded streamshurry too rapidly down to the sea,and the pressure of so many clouds on the mountaintopsmakes..

© Elizabeth Bishop

The Moose

For Grace Bulmer BowersFrom narrow provincesof fish and bread and tea,home of the long tideswhere the bay leaves the seatwice a day and takesthe..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Arrival At Santos

Here is a coast; here is a harbor;here, after a meager diet of horizon, is some scenery:impractically shaped and--who knows?--self-pitying..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Argument

Days that cannot bring you nearor will not,Distance trying to appearsomething more obstinate,argue argue argue with meendlesslyneither proving you..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Exchanging Hats

Unfunny uncles who insistin trying on a lady's hat,--oh, even if the joke falls flat,we share your slight transvestite twistin spite of our..

© Elizabeth Bishop

A Summer’s Dream

To the sagging wharffew ships could come.The population numberedtwo giants, an idiot, a dwarf,a gentle storekeeperasleep behind his counter,and our..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Conversation

The tumult in the heartkeeps asking questions.And then it stops and undertakes to answerin the same tone of voice.No one could tell the..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Love Lies Sleeping

Earliest morning, switching all the tracksthat cross the sky from cinder star to star,coupling the ends of streetsto trains of light.now draw us into..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Cape Breton

Out on the high "bird islands," Ciboux and Hertford,the razorbill auks and the silly-looking puffins all standwith their backs to the mainlandin..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Five Flights Up

Still dark.The unknown bird sits on his usual branch.The little dog next door barks in his sleepinquiringly, just once.Perhaps in his sleep, too, the..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Anaphora

Each day with so much ceremonybegins, with birds, with bells,with whistles from a factory;such white-gold skies our eyesfirst open on, such brilliant..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Chemin De Fer

Alone on the railroad trackI walked with pounding heart.The ties were too close togetheror maybe too far apart.The scenery was..

© Elizabeth Bishop

At The Fishhouses

Although it is a cold evening,down by one of the fishhousesan old man sits netting,his net, in the gloaming almost invisible,a dark purple-brown,and..

© Elizabeth Bishop

First Death In Nova Scotia

In the cold, cold parlormy mother laid out Arthurbeneath the chromographs:Edward, Prince of Wales,with Princess Alexandra,and King George with Queen..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Filling Station

Oh, but it is dirty!--this little filling station,oil-soaked, oil-permeatedto a disturbing, over-allblack translucency.Be careful with that..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Insomnia

The moon in the bureau mirrorlooks out a million miles(and perhaps with pride, at herself,but she never, never smiles)far and away beyond sleep..

© Elizabeth Bishop

In The Waiting Room

In Worcester, Massachusetts,I went with Aunt Consueloto keep her dentist's appointmentand sat and waited for herin the dentist's waiting room.It was..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Florida

The state with the prettiest name,the state that floats in brackish water,held together by mangrave rootsthat bear while living oysters in..

© Elizabeth Bishop

A Prodigal

The brown enormous odor he lived bywas too close, with its breathing and thick hair,for him to judge. The floor was rotten; the stywas plastered..

© Elizabeth Bishop

A Miracle For Breakfast

At six o'clock we were waiting for coffee,waiting for coffee and the charitable crumbthat was going to be served from a certain balcony- like kings..

© Elizabeth Bishop

Sestina

September rain falls on the house.In the failing light, the old grandmothersits in the kitchen with the childbeside the Little Marvel Stove,reading..

© Elizabeth Bishop

The Fish

I caught a tremendous fishand held him beside the boathalf out of water, with my hookfast in a corner of his mouth.He didn't fight.He hadn't fought..

© Elizabeth Bishop

I Am In Need Of Music

I am in need of music that would flowOver my fretful, feeling fingertips,Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,With melody, deep, clear, and..

© Elizabeth Bishop

One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;so many things seem filled with the intentto be lost that their loss is no disaster,Lose something every day...

© Elizabeth Bishop

Working Class Hero

My brothers knewThe things you know.I did not scornlearning them;It’s just my mindWas busy being trainedFor “Other Things”:Poetry, Philosophy..

© Alice Walker