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").

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

Turning Madness Into Flowers #1

If my sorrow were deeperI'd be, along with you, underthe ocean's floor;but today I learn that the oilthat pools beneath the ocean flooris..

© Alice Walker