Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Litany - By Billy Collins


You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine...
-Jacques Crickillon

You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine. 

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.
Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of religion.
Joys impregnate.  Sorrows bring forth.
Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you.
The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn of the crow.
Expect poison from standing water.
Damn braces.  Bless relaxes.

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.
For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.

The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, & breeds reptiles of the mind.

-William Blake, from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.