The fist clenched round my heart
loosens a little, and I gasp
brightness; but it tightens
again. When have I ever not loved
the pain of love? But this has moved
past love to mania. This has the strong
clench of the madman, this is
gripping the ledge of unreason, before
plunging howling into the abyss.
Hold hard the, heart. This way at least you live.
In poetry news, W.S. Merwin has been awarded the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for his collection "The Shadows of Sirius." This is his second Pulitzer. He also won in 1971. Look for a sample of his poetry in the coming days.
One sad apple
12 years ago
Very beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I was moved by the way that he expressed something that was both universal and unnameable.
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