Author Archives: tamolantern@gmail.com
Every Poem Was a Secret ~ Hirsch
Every Poem Was a Secret Every poem was a secret struggle with himself, every secret was a struggle, a handwritten scrawl, something joyous or terrible, a fragmentary blood-soaked message wrenched out of his body, a longing for some impossible harmony … Continue reading
Tax Day Limericks!
Tax Day Limericks! The limerick’s callous and crude, Its morals distressingly lewd; It’s not worth the reading By persons of breeding – It’s designed for us vulgar and rude. On the chest of a barmaid at Yale Was tattooed … Continue reading
Since You Asked ~ Raab
Since You Asked (for a friend who asked to be in a poem) Since you asked, let’s make it dinner at your house – a celebration for no reason, which is always the best occasion. Are you worried there won’t … Continue reading
Love After Love ~ Walcott
Love after Love The time will come when, with elation, you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror, and each will smile at the other’s welcome, and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again … Continue reading
The Grave-Digger ~ Gibran
The Grave-Digger Once, as I was burying one of my dead selves, the grave-digger came by and said to me, “Of all those who come here to bury, you alone I like.” Said I, ” You please me exceedingly, but … Continue reading
In Praise of My Bed ~ Holmes
In Praise of My Bed At last I can be with you! The grinding hours since I left your side! The labor of being fully human, working my opposable thumb, talking, and walking upright. Now I have unclasped unzipped, stepped … Continue reading
What We Want ~ Pastan
What We Want What we want is never simple. We move among the things we thought we wanted: a face, a room, an open book and these things bear our names- now they want us. But what we want appears … Continue reading
Moon, Flowers, Man ~ Su Tung P’o
Moon, Flowers, Man I raise my cup and invite The moon to come down from the Sky. I hope she will accept Me. I raise my cup and ask The branches, heavy with flowers, To drink with me. I wish … Continue reading
Gift ~ Milosz
Gift A day so happy. Fog lifted early, I worked in the garden. Hummingbirds were stopping over honeysuckle flowers. There was no thing on earth I wanted to possess. I knew no one worth my envying him. Whatever evil I … Continue reading
Little Things ~ Strobel
Little Things Little things I’ll give to you- Till your fingers learn to press Gently On a loveliness; Little things and new- Till your fingers learn to hold Love that’s fragile, Love that’s old. ~ Marion Strobel