«It seems the sea, that scourge of ages, / contrives your genius to inspire? / You laud upon your golden lyre / old Neptune’s trident as he rages. Don’t waste your praise. These days you’ll find / that sea and land have no division. / On any element mankind / is tyrant, traitor, or...»
«How is your life with the other one, / simpler, isn’t it? One stroke of the oar / then a long coastline, and soon / even the memory of me will be a floating island / (in the sky, not on the waters): / spirits, spirits, you will be / sisters, and never lovers. How is your lif...»
«I was washing at night out in the yard, / the heavens glowing with rough stars, / a star-beam like salt upon an axe, / the water butt cold and brim full. A padlock makes the gate secure, / and conscience gives sternness to the earth — / hard to find a standard anywhere / purer than th...»
«We’ve done enough, we’ve said enough — / let’s sit in silence, without smiling; / low-lying clouds are shedding snow / and heaven’s light is slowly fading. The brittle willows rage and split / in an unspeakable pitched battle. / "Until tomorrow, then," I say. / "As for today, ...»