Стихи и эссе

'These had stopped seeking
But went on speaking,
Have not contributed
But have diluted.

These ordered light

But had no right,
These handed on
War and a son.

Wishing no harm

But to be warm,
These fell asleep.
On the burning heap.

10

Private faces
In public places
Are wiser and nicer
Than public faces
In private places.

* * *

I'm beginning to lose patience
With my personal relations:
They are not deep,
And they are not cheap.

* * *

Thoughts of his own death,
like the distant roll
of thunder at a picnic.

* * *

Bound to ourselves for life,
we must learn how to
put up with each other.

* * *

Fate succumbs
many species: one alone
jeopardises itself.

* * *

The palm extended in welcome:
Look! for you
I have unclenched my fist.

* * *

Animal femurs,
ascribed to saints who never
existed, are still

more holy than portraits

of conquerors who,
unfortunately, did.

* * *

Pulling on his socks,
he recall that his gran-pa
went pop in the act.

* * *

Man must either fall in love
with Someone or Something,
or else fall ill.

* * *

Nothing can be loved too much,
but all things can be loved
in the wrong way.

* * *

I'm for freedom because I mistrust the Censor in office,
But if I held the job, my! how severe I should be!

* * *

When he is well
She gives him hell;
But she's a brick
When he is sick.

They wondered why the fruit had been forbidden…

They wondered why the fruit had been forbidden:
It taught them nothing new. They hid their pride,
But did not listen much when they were chidden:
They knew exactly what to do outside.

They left. Immediately the memory faded

Of all they known: they could not understand
The dogs now who before had always aided;
The stream was dumb with whom they'd always planned.

They wept and quarrelled: freedom was so wild.

In front maturity as he ascended
Retired like a horizon from the child,

The dangers and the punishments grew greater,

And the way back by angels was defended
Against the poet and the legislator.

At last the secret is out…