Apr 29th 2010 SUDDEN POEM
SUDDEN POEM, APRIL 2010
STANLEY GEMMELL
“Before I praise the dead I should like to point out by what
principles of action we rose to power…” THUCYDIDES * Funeral Speech
To the claim of excellence
And a privileged place in the earth
We are of one mind
Seduced and thrown
By the voice of a woman
Of the slain hosts of men
Who before our hour
Had come to pass like
Red rain into the moss
And gave form to loss
Or of lightning brief and white
Whose thoughts are molten
And jagged to form links
With perfect things
Sought to destroy
Itself a fable
The quickening friendship
Between the sky and the earth
Surely a glance was enough
To retain immortal
The names between us holy
As how men may survive
Seasons as infidel
To themselves
Wrathful and traitorous
For one’s self is also a nation
Thus in love are joined two lands
The body of woman
The body of man
Their mouths slurred in bliss
For to starry heaven
Vast and eternal
Wings and silences
To scarlet lashes
Answers thunder
Fallen lightly as curious footsteps
Making their way past the vaults
Containing their own creations
And listening this became music
Itself the dance for alternates
Fragrant smokes were risen
Feasts filling with spiced loins
Eyes grown long with tears to cover
The shapes of beautiful girls
With parted lips
Tigers crowding the
Commanders’ countenance
Which ultimately became
The drums which are also
The shining sun
To the blind and venerated
Hopes of those shown strange
Favor from the sweet queen
Of paradise
So much favor given
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Stanley Gemmell, poet
http://poetmage.tumblr.com
http://angelfire.com/il/surlsone
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