William Snodgrass
William Snodgrass
cry heard nights whipped
You still whispered you would not die. Yet in the nights I heard you cry Like a whipped child. . . .
divorce drained eyes force regret sick unspoken
Before we drained out one another's force With lies, self-denial, unspoken regret And the sick eyes that blame; before the divorce And the treachery.
dead happened leaves man piles stopped turned
I happened to findYour picture. That picture. I stopped there cold,Like a man raking piles of dead leaves in his yardWho has turned up a severed hand.
dead happened leaves man piles stopped turned yard
I happened to find Your picture. That picture. I stopped there cold, Like a man raking piles of dead leaves in his yard Who has turned up a severed hand.
choose free power refuse
Of all things, only we have power to choose that we should die; nothing else is free in this world to refuse it.
experience futile life social taught
After experience taught me that all the ordinarySurroundings of social life are futile and vain. . . .
experience futile life ordinary social taught
After experience taught me that all the ordinary Surroundings of social life are futile and vain. . . .
choose power refuse
Of all things, only wehave power to choose that we should die;nothing else is freein this world to refuse it.
drained eyes sick unspoken
Before we drained out one another's forceWith lies, self-denial, unspoken regretAnd the sick eyes that blame; before the divorceAnd the treachery.