I Canali, un Pranzo, il Arsenale
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
The Romans, Japanese and Greeks once had
A reverence, religious in a calm
Way, quiet, for the clockwork things, the sad
(The solemn thrilled) events in life, the balm
Of dawn or dusk, the leaves of autumn wood
Serene and fevered both as one, combined,
The harshness of high mountain with a hood
Of softest snow ordained at night enshrined
In ritual. A ritual when boy
Becomes a man, a gesture with the hand
When entering a shrine, a bow in joy
For husband’s bride—all these were spanned.
A knife was lifted high above a throat
When sleekest warship first was set afloat.
~ Phillip Whidden