Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
Sabbaths, W.I.
Those villages stricken with the melancholia of Sunday,in all of whose ocher streets one dog is sleepingthose volcanoes like ashen roses, or the..
© Derek Walcott
In The Virgins
You can't put in the ground swell of the organfrom the Christiansted, St.Croix, Anglican Churchbehind the paratrooper's voice: 'Turned copafter..
© Derek Walcott
Codicil
Schizophrenic, wrenched by two styles,one a hack's hired prose, I earnme exile. I trudge this sickle, moonlit beach for miles,tan, burnto slough..
© Derek Walcott
Dark August
So much rain, so much life like the swollen skyof this black August. My sister, the sun,broods in her yellow room and won't come out.Everything goes..
© Derek Walcott
The Glory Trumpeter
Old Eddie's face, wrinkled with river lights,Looked like a Mississippi man's. The eyes,Derisive and avuncular at once,Swivelling, fixed me. They'd..
© Derek Walcott
Egypt, Tobago
There is a shattered palmon this fierce shore,its plumes the rusting helm-et of a dead warrior.Numb Antony, in the torporstretching her inertsex near..
© Derek Walcott
A Far Cry From Africa
A wind is ruffling the tawny peltOf Africa, Kikuyu, quick as flies,Batten upon the bloodstreams of the veldt.Corpses are scattered through a..
© Derek Walcott
Forest Of Europe
ayed,when, in his forest of barbed-wire branches,a prisoner circles, chewing the one phrasewhose music will last longer than the leaves,whose..
© Derek Walcott
After The Storm
There are so many islands!As many islands as the stars at nighton that branched tree from which meteors are shakenlike falling fruit around the..
© Derek Walcott
The Sea Is History
Where are your monuments, your battles, martyrs?Where is your tribal memory? Sirs,in that gray vault. The sea. The seahas locked them up. The sea is..
© Derek Walcott
A City's Death By Fire
After that hot gospeller has levelled all but the churched sky,I wrote the tale by tallow of a city's death by fire;Under a candle's eye, that smoked..
© Derek Walcott
Midsummer, Tobago
Broad sun-stoned beaches.White heat.A green river.A bridge,scorched yellow palmsfrom the summer-sleeping housedrowsing through August.Days I have..
© Derek Walcott
Love After Love
The time will comewhen, with elationyou will greet yourself arrivingat your own door, in your own mirrorand each will smile at the other's..
© Derek Walcott
This Dog
Every morning this dog, very attached to me,Quietly keeps sitting near my seatTill touching its headI recognize its company.This recognition gives it..
© Rabindranath Tagore
Maran-Milan (Death-Wedding)
Why do you speak so softly, Death, Death,Creep upon me, watch me so stealthily?This is not how a lover should behave.When evening flowers droop upon..
© Rabindranath Tagore
I Found A Few Old Letters
XIVI found a few old letters of mine carefully hidden in thy box—a few small toys for thy memory to play with. With a timorous heart thou didst try..
© Rabindranath Tagore
Stray Birds 21- 30
21THEY throw their shadows before themwho carry their lantern on their back.22THAT I existis a perpetual surprisewhich is life.23'WE, the rustling..
© Rabindranath Tagore
The Gardener Xliv: Reverend Sir, Forgive
Reverend sir, forgive this pair ofsinners. Spring winds to-day areblowing in wild eddies, driving dustand dead leaves away, and with themyour lessons..
© Rabindranath Tagore
We Are To Play The Game Of Death
WE are to play the game of death to-night, my bride and I.The night is black, the clouds in the sky are capricious, and the waves are raving at..
© Rabindranath Tagore
Stray Birds 1 - 10
1STRAY birds of summer come to my windowto sing and fly away.And yellow leaves of autumn,which have no songs,flutter and fall there with a sigh.2O..
© Rabindranath Tagore
My Dependence
I like to be dependent, and so for everwith warmth and care of my mothermy father , to love, kiss and embracewear life happily in all their grace.I..
© Rabindranath Tagore
When The Two Sisters Go To Fetch Water
WHEN the two sisters go to fetch water, they come to this spot and they smile.They must be aware of somebody who stands behind the trees whenever..
© Rabindranath Tagore
The Gardener Li: Then Finish The Last Song
Then finish the last song and let usleave.Forget this night when the night isno more.Whom do I try to clasp in myarms? Dreams can never be made..
© Rabindranath Tagore
Stray Birds 71 - 80
71THE woodcutter's axe begged for its handle from the tree.The tree gave it.72IN my solitude of heartI feel the sigh of this widowed eveningveiled..
© Rabindranath Tagore
The Gardener Lxxxiv: Over The Green
Over the green and yellow rice-fieldssweep the shadows of the autumnclouds followed by the swift-chasingsun.The bees forget to sip their..
© Rabindranath Tagore