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").
To Winter
Stay, season of calm love and soulful snows!There is a subtle sweetness in the sun,The ripples on the stream's breast gaily run,The wind more..
© Claude McKay
One Year After
INot once in all our days of poignant love,Did I a single instant give to theeMy undivided being wholly free.Not all thy potent passion could..
© Claude McKay
The Plateau
It was the silver, heart-enveloping viewOf the mysterious sea-line far away,Seen only on a gleaming gold-white day,That made it dear and beautiful to..
© Claude McKay
Memorial
Your body was a sacred cell always,A jewel that grew dull in garish light,An opal which beneath my wondering gazeGleamed rarely, softly throbbing in..
© Claude McKay
Subway Wind
Far down, down through the city's great, gaunt gut,The gray train rushing bears the weary wind;In the packed cars the fans the crowd's breath..
© Claude McKay
To One Coming North
At first you'll joy to see the playful snow,Like white moths trembling on the tropic air,Or waters of the hills that softly flowGracefully falling..
© Claude McKay
O Word I Love To Sing
O word I love to sing! thou art too tenderFor all the passions agitating me;For all my bitterness thou art too tender,I cannot pour my red soul into..
© Claude McKay
Jasmines
Your scent is in the room.Swiftly it overwhelms and conquers me!Jasmines, night jasmines, perfect of perfume,Heavy with dew before the dawn of..
© Claude McKay
On Broadway
About me young careless feetLinger along the garish street;Above, a hundred shouting signsShed down their bright fantastic glowUpon the merry crowd..
© Claude McKay
Summer Morn In New Hampshire
All yesterday it poured, and all night longI could not sleep; the rain unceasing beatUpon the shingled roof like a weird song,Upon the grass like..
© Claude McKay
The Castaways
The vivid grass with visible delightSpringing triumphant from the pregnant earth,The butterflies, and sparrows in brief flightChirping and dancing..
© Claude McKay
North And South
O sweet are tropic lands for waking dreams!There time and life move lazily along.There by the banks of blue-and-silver streamsGrass-sheltered..
© Claude McKay
Through Agony
IAll night, through the eternity of night,Pain was my potion though I could not feel.Deep in my humbled heart you ground your heel,Till I was reft of..
© Claude McKay
The Night-Fire
No engines shrieking rescue storm the night,And hose and hydrant cannot here avail;The flames laugh high and fling their challenging light,And clouds..
© Claude McKay
The Wild Goat
O you would clothe me in silken frocksAnd house me from the cold,And bind with bright bands my glossy locks,And buy me chains of gold;And give..
© Claude McKay
The Barrier
I must not gaze at them althoughYour eyes are dawning day;I must not watch you as you goYour sun-illumined way;I hear but I must never heedThe..
© Claude McKay
The Easter Flower
Far from this foreign Easter damp and chillyMy soul steals to a pear-shaped plot of ground,Where gleamed the lilac-tinted Easter lilySoft-scented in..
© Claude McKay
Poetry
Sometimes I tremble like a storm-swept flower,And seek to hide my tortured soul from thee.Bowing my head in deep humilityBefore the silent thunder of..
© Claude McKay
Futility
Oh, I have tried to laugh the pain away,Let new flames brush my love-springs like a feather.But the old fever seizes me to-day,As sickness grips a..
© Claude McKay
When Dawn Comes To The City
The tired cars go grumbling by,The moaning, groaning cars,And the old milk carts go rumbling byUnder the same dull stars.Out of the tenements, cold..
© Claude McKay
The White House
Your door is shut against my tightened face,And I am sharp as steel with discontent;But I possess the courage and the graceTo bear my anger proudly..
© Claude McKay
Thirst
My spirit wails for water, water now!My tongue is aching dry, my throat is hotFor water, fresh rain shaken from a bough,Or dawn dews heavy in some..
© Claude McKay
To A Poet
There is a lovely noise about your name,Above the shoutings of the city clear,More than a moment's merriment, whose claimWill greater grow with every..
© Claude McKay
On The Road
Roar of the rushing train fearfully rocking,Impatient people jammed in line for food,The rasping noise of cars together knocking,And worried waiters..
© Claude McKay
Spring In New Hampshire
Too green the springing April grass,Too blue the silver-speckled sky,For me to linger here, alas,While happy winds go laughing by,Wasting the golden..
© Claude McKay