William Snodgrass
William Snodgrass
choose power refuse
Of all things, only wehave power to choose that we should die;nothing else is freein this world to refuse it.
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.
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.
life
And you, whiner, who wastes your timeDawdling over the remorseless earth,What evil, what unspeakable crimeHave you made your life worth?
crime earth life time
And you, whiner, who wastes your time Dawdling over the remorseless earth, What evil, what unspeakable crime Have you made your life worth?
heard nights whipped
You still whispered you would not die.Yet in the nights I heard you cryLike a whipped child. . . .
cry heard nights whipped
You still whispered you would not die. Yet in the nights I heard you cry Like a whipped child. . . .
call facial rip strength
You must call up every strength you ownAnd you can rip off the whole facial mask.
call facial rip strength
You must call up every strength you own And you can rip off the whole facial mask.
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. . . .
across falls full shadow weed
Someone will have to weed and spreadThe young sprouts. Sprinkle them in the hourWhen shadow falls across their bed.You should try to look at them every dayBecause when they come to full flowerI will be away.
across falls flower full hour shadow spread weed
Someone will have to weed and spread The young sprouts. Sprinkle them in the hour When shadow falls across their bed. You should try to look at them every day Because when they come to full flower I will be away.