Posts Tagged ‘poetry’
Speed
July 7th, 2010
Each thing I do I rush through so I can do
something else. In such a way do the days pass -
a blend of stock car racing and the never
ending building of a gothic cathedral.
Through the windows of my speeding car, I see
all that I love falling away: books unread,
jokes untold, landscapes unvisited. And why?
What treasure do I expect in my future?
Rather it is the confusion of childhood
loping behind me, the chaos in the mind,
the failure chipping away at each success.
Glancing over my shoulder I see its shape
and so move forward, as someone in the woods
at night might hear the sound of approaching feet
and stop to listen, then, instead of silence
he hears some creature trying to be silent.
What else can he do but run? Rushing blindly
down the path, stumbling, struck in the face by sticks;
the other ever closer, yet not really
hurrying or out of breath, teasing its kill.
~~Pursuit by Stephen Dobyns
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The People, Yes
March 15th, 2006
The people so often sleepy, weary, enigmatic,
is a vast huddle with many units saying:
“I earn my living /
I make enough to get by /
and it takes all my time.
If I had more time /
I could do more for myself /
and maybe for others.
I could read and study /
and talk things over /
and find out about things /
It takes time.
I wish I had the time.”
– Carl Sandburg, 1936.
I found an audio clip of Carl reading “The People, Yes” – 2mb MP3. See also the Academy of American Poets writeup on Carl.
