Thursday, January 15, 2015

It Burns Whatever Body Lives into Extinction















THE PLATE

Anthony Hecht

Now he has silver in him. When sometime
Death shall boil down unnecessary fat
To reach the nub of our identity,
             When in the run of crime
The skull is rifled for the gold in teeth,
And chemistry has eaten from the spine
Superfluous life and vigor, why then he
Will show a richness to be wondered at,
             And shall be thought a mine
Whose claim and stake are stone and floral wreath.

The body burns away, and burning gives
Light to the eye and moisture to the lip
And warmth to our desires, but it burns
             Whatever body lives
Into extinction though it wear a plate
Of armor in it: therefore do we thrive
In fear of fire, in terror of the ship
That carries us to fire. A soldier learns
             To bear the silver weight
Where in his head the fire is most alive.



2 comments:

  1. the flopp y boot stomp,i keep for getting to say how much i love that painted cover shiny beast,pin k,bat chain puller / tow 'er / \ / lhasa de sela had a song .. i'm going in .. i played it over and over and over ag. a few yrs back to make me brave , she passed away a few years ago as you all should know , /an d now a turn .. anne/lesle y is coming out,and it is not to do with 'er sh' shares 'er day of birth with anais nin .. . .. . /sh' held a plate to the moon

    ReplyDelete
  2. War? Panic? Mass flooding? Extinction?

    Top o' the morning to you, too!

    ReplyDelete