Ha, of courts you won’t believe me when I say I got the allusion after the first stanza, Max…
Good one, Max.
Doug
On Nov 4, 2014, at 1:20 PM, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Time’s up, guys.
>
> Nobody gets a prize.
>
> I was pinching from Frost _
>
> [I seem to recall from Handel’s Messiah the phrase
>
> acquainted with grief.
>
> I expect there are some parallels elsewhere…]
>
> For me it was merely line two that these wet days here
> keeps running in my head.
>
> Max in Seattle
>
> Acquainted with the Night
> I have been one acquainted with the night.
> I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
> I have outwalked the furthest city light.
>
> I have looked down the saddest city lane.
> I have passed by the watchman on his beat
> And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
>
> I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
> When far away an interrupted cry
> Came over houses from another street,
>
> But not to call me back or say good-bye;
> And further still at an unearthly height,
> One luminary clock against the sky
>
> Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
> I have been one acquainted with the night.
>
> On Nov 4, 2014, at 8:08 PM, Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Sounds like you missing dear old Melbourne
>> Cheers P
>> I have been acquainted with death! (is that a quote?)
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>> Behalf Of Max Richards
>> Sent: 04 November 2014 06:54
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: acquainted
>>
>> Acquainted with Seattle
>> I have been one acquainted with Seattle.
>> I have walked out in rain-and back in rain.
>> I have outwalked the furthest city light.
>>
>> I have looked down the saddest city lane.
>> I have passed by the homeless on their patch And dropped my eyes, unwilling
>> to explain.
>>
>> And further still at an unearthly height, The Space Needle against the sky
>>
>> Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
>> I have been one acquainted with Seattle.=
>
Douglas Barbour
[log in to unmask]
Recent publications: (With Sheila E Murphy) Continuations & Continuation 2 (UofAPress).
Recording Dates (Rubicon Press).
that we are only
as we find out we are
Charles Olson
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