Fear poems

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God

© Isaac Rosenberg

In his malodorous brain what slugs and mire,

Lanthorned in his oblique eyes, guttering burned!

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The Grownup

© Rainer Maria Rilke

All this stood upon her and was the world
and stood upon her with all its fear and grace
as trees stand, growing straight up, imageless
yet wholly image, like the Ark of God,
and solemn, as if imposed upon a race.

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Victory

© Adrienne Rich

Suddenly instead of art we're eyeing
organisms traced and stained on cathedral transparencies
cruel blues embroidered purples succinct yellows
a beautiful tumor

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For the Record

© Adrienne Rich

The clouds and the stars didn't wage this war
the brooks gave no information
if the mountain spewed stones of fire into the river
it was not taking sides
the raindrop faintly swaying under the leaf
had no political opinions

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The Horsemen

© Obi Nwakanma

for Christopher Okigbo
Emrnanuel Ifeajuna &
Chukwuma Nzeogwu

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The Earthly Paradise: Apology

© William Morris

Of Heaven or Hell I have no power to sing,

I cannot ease the burden of your fears,

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Inheritance-His

© Audre Lorde

Does an image of return
wealthy and triumphant
warm your chilblained fingers
as you count coins in the Manhattan snow
or is it only Linda
who dreams of home?

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Sir Humphrey Gilbert

© Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Eastward from Campobello
Sir Humphrey Gilbert sailed;
Three days or more seaward he bore,
Then, alas! the land-wind failed.

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Paul Revere's Ride

© Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

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Song of the Indian Maid

© John Keats

O SORROW!
Why dost borrow
The natural hue of health, from vermeil lips?¡ª
To give maiden blushes
To the white rose bushes? 5
Or is it thy dewy hand the daisy tips?

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Crow Sickene

© Ted Hughes

Decided to get death, but whatever
Walked into his ambush
Was always his own body.

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Crow and Mama

© Ted Hughes

When Crow cried his mother's ear


Scorched to a stump.

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Hear, ye Ladies

© John Gould Fletcher

HEAR, ye ladies that despise

What the mighty Love has done;

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God Lyaeus

© John Gould Fletcher

GOD Lyaeus, ever young,

Ever honour'd, ever sung,

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Low Tide on Grand Pré

© Bliss William Carman

A grievous stream, that to and fro
Athrough the fields of Acadie
Goes wandering, as if to know
Why one beloved face should be
So long from home and Acadie.

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4. Song-In the Character of a Ruined Farmer

© Robert Burns

THE SUN he is sunk in the west,
All creatures retir?d to rest,
While here I sit, all sore beset,
With sorrow, grief, and woe:
And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!

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397. Song-Wandering Willie (Revised Version)

© Robert Burns

HERE awa, there awa, wandering Willie,

Here awa, there awa, haud awa hame;

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390. Song-A Health to them that’s awa

© Robert Burns


Note 1. Charles James Fox. [back]
Note 2. Hon. Thos. Erskine, afterwards Lord Erskine. [back]

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383. Song-My Wife’s a winsome wee thing

© Robert Burns

Chorus.—She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a lo’esome wee thing,
This dear wee wife o’ mine.

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373. Song-The Slave’s Lament

© Robert Burns

IT was in sweet Senegal that my foes did me enthral,
For the lands of Virginia,—ginia, O:
Torn from that lovely shore, and must never see it more;
And alas! I am weary, weary O:
Torn from that lovely shore, and must never see it more;
And alas! I am weary, weary O.