The unity of the Fatherland.The honour of the nation.Law.Purity.The soul. Everywhere, always, the lies. Be careful.The lies that you spit with clenched teethAnd must speakBuild prisons and break bones.—And do you supposeTo stuff nothingness in your mouthAnd not become empty as these? Say nothing.Mouth nothing.Let silence topple their walls.
As I lay asleep in Italy
There came a voice from over the Sea
And with great power it forth led me
To walk in the visions of Poesy.
Out of the mist of yearnings, prides, and shames
We raise our cairn of glorious regret,
And with God’s honour now unite the names
Men signed in bloody sweat.
Here’s freedom to them that wad read,
Here’s freedom to them that wad write!
There’s nane ever fear’d that the truth should be heard,
But they whom the truth would indite.
In any other country
/ Your tomb
/ Would have been worn smooth
/ By our devotions
/
/ But here the notice says:
/ ‘Please do not touch.’
/
/ They should have…
Preeve you tae me thare’s natiounhood,
/ and I sall preeve thare’s nane;
/ an that’s as gyte as your belief
/ that needs nae pruif…
September 1st, 1939.
/
/ Cicalas burst the air, a heat-haze quivers
/ on the pale plain, the glittering…
politicians must become / better messengers / with a better tale / to tell…
Rouen
/ April 26 – May 25, 1915
/
/ Early morning over Rouen, hopeful, high, courageous morning,
/ And the laughter of adventure and the steepness…
I am a poet / a unanimous cry / I am a particle of dreams…
The corn was turnin’, hairst was near,
/ But lang afore the scythes could start
/ A sough o’…
/ My dainty lass, lay you the blame
/ Upon the richtfu’ heid;
/ ‘Twas daft ill-luck that bigg’d yer hame
/ …
