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").
Wild May
Aleta mentions in her tender letters,Among a chain of quaint and touching things,That you are feeble, weighted down with fetters,And given to strange..
© Claude McKay
Homing Swallows
Swift swallows sailing from the Spanish main,O rain-birds racing merrily awayFrom hill-tops parched with heat and sultry plainOf wilting plants and..
© Claude McKay
Polarity
Nay, why reproach each other, be unkind,For there's no plane on which we two may meet?Let's both forgive, forget, for both were blind,And life is of..
© Claude McKay
Russian Cathedral
Bow down my soul in worship very lowAnd in the holy silences be lost.Bow down before the marble man of woe,Bow down before the singing angel..
© Claude McKay
To O.E.A.
Your voice is the color of a robin's breast,And there's a sweet sob in it like rain--still rain in the night.Among the leaves of the trumpet-tree..
© Claude McKay
On A Primitive Canoe
Here, passing lonely down this quiet lane,Before a mud-splashed window long I pauseTo gaze and gaze, while through my active brainStill thoughts are..
© Claude McKay
La Paloma In London
About Soho we went before the light;We went, unresting six, craving new fun,New scenes, new raptures, for the fevered nightOf rollicking laughter..
© Claude McKay
Tormented
I will not reason, wrestle here with you,Though you pursue and worry me about;As well put forth my swarthy arm to stopThe wild wind howling, darkly..
© Claude McKay
Morning Joy
At night the wide and level stretch of wold,Which at high noon had basked in quiet gold,Far as the eye could see was ghostly white;Dark was the night..
© Claude McKay
To Winter
Stay, season of calm love and soulful snows!There is a subtle sweetness in the sun,The ripples on the stream's breast gaily run,The wind more..
© Claude McKay
One Year After
INot once in all our days of poignant love,Did I a single instant give to theeMy undivided being wholly free.Not all thy potent passion could..
© Claude McKay
The Plateau
It was the silver, heart-enveloping viewOf the mysterious sea-line far away,Seen only on a gleaming gold-white day,That made it dear and beautiful to..
© Claude McKay
Memorial
Your body was a sacred cell always,A jewel that grew dull in garish light,An opal which beneath my wondering gazeGleamed rarely, softly throbbing in..
© Claude McKay
Subway Wind
Far down, down through the city's great, gaunt gut,The gray train rushing bears the weary wind;In the packed cars the fans the crowd's breath..
© Claude McKay
To One Coming North
At first you'll joy to see the playful snow,Like white moths trembling on the tropic air,Or waters of the hills that softly flowGracefully falling..
© Claude McKay
O Word I Love To Sing
O word I love to sing! thou art too tenderFor all the passions agitating me;For all my bitterness thou art too tender,I cannot pour my red soul into..
© Claude McKay
Jasmines
Your scent is in the room.Swiftly it overwhelms and conquers me!Jasmines, night jasmines, perfect of perfume,Heavy with dew before the dawn of..
© Claude McKay
On Broadway
About me young careless feetLinger along the garish street;Above, a hundred shouting signsShed down their bright fantastic glowUpon the merry crowd..
© Claude McKay
Summer Morn In New Hampshire
All yesterday it poured, and all night longI could not sleep; the rain unceasing beatUpon the shingled roof like a weird song,Upon the grass like..
© Claude McKay
The Castaways
The vivid grass with visible delightSpringing triumphant from the pregnant earth,The butterflies, and sparrows in brief flightChirping and dancing..
© Claude McKay
North And South
O sweet are tropic lands for waking dreams!There time and life move lazily along.There by the banks of blue-and-silver streamsGrass-sheltered..
© Claude McKay
Through Agony
IAll night, through the eternity of night,Pain was my potion though I could not feel.Deep in my humbled heart you ground your heel,Till I was reft of..
© Claude McKay
The Night-Fire
No engines shrieking rescue storm the night,And hose and hydrant cannot here avail;The flames laugh high and fling their challenging light,And clouds..
© Claude McKay
The Wild Goat
O you would clothe me in silken frocksAnd house me from the cold,And bind with bright bands my glossy locks,And buy me chains of gold;And give..
© Claude McKay
The Barrier
I must not gaze at them althoughYour eyes are dawning day;I must not watch you as you goYour sun-illumined way;I hear but I must never heedThe..
© Claude McKay