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").
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
Word Reaches Us
Word reaches usthat you are sleeping, sleeping.Dismayedwe have turned to the sea.We encounter among otherswalking therea sense of what we have..
© Alice Walker
What It Feels Like
As if I've swallowedA watermelonAndSidesteppingMy digestive tractIt has lodgedIn my heart.There it liesGreen& wholewith a lusciousredheart of its..
© Alice Walker
You Want To Grow Old Like The Carters
Let other leadersRetireTo play golf& writeMemoirsAbout bombingVillagesThey've never seen.Growing oldPresents a perilThey may notExpect.It is to..
© Alice Walker
To Change The World Enough
To change the world enoughyou must cease to be afraidof the poor.We experience your fear as the least pardonable ofhumiliations; in the pastit has..
© Alice Walker
What Makes The Dalai Lama Lovable?
His postureFrom so many yearsHolding his robe with one handIs odd.His gaitAlso.One's own bodyAchesWitnessingThe slopingShoulders& AngledNeck;One..
© Alice Walker
From: Poems To My Girls
IHow can Humanitylook the deerinthe face?How can Mommy,having erectedmy fence?
© Alice Walker