John Crowe Ransom Poems (54 Poems)
Grace (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
WHO is it beams the merriest At killing a man, the laughing one? You are the one I nominate, God of the rivers of Babylon. A hundred times I’ve taken the mules And started early through the lane, And come to the broken gate and … Continue reading
Noonday Grace (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
MY good old father tucked his head, (His face the color of gingerbread) Over the table my mother had spread, And folded his leathery hands and said: ”We thank thee, Lord, for this thy grace, And all thy bounties to the race; Turn not away … Continue reading
A Christmas Colloquy (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
THE country farmer has his joys Of little city girls and boys When brother Thomas brings his brood Of motherless brats in Christmas mood To try our country air and food. And O what splendid pies and cakes Their pleased and pretty grandma makes! And O what … Continue reading
Sunset (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
I KNOW you are not cruel, And you would not willingly hurt anything in the world. There is kindness in your eyes, There could not very well be more of it in eyes Already brimful of the sky. I thought you would some day begin … Continue reading
Geometry (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
My window looks upon a wood That stands as tangled as it stood When God was centuries too young To care how right he worked, or wrong, His patterns in obedient trees, Unprofited by the centuries He still plants on as crazily As in his drivelling infancy. … Continue reading
Sickness (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
THE toughest carcass in the town Fell sick at last and took to bed, And on that bed God waited him With cool, cool hands for his frantic head, And while the fever did its dance They talked, and a good thing was said: ”See, I … Continue reading
The Swimmer (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
IN dog-days plowmen quit their toil, And frog-ponds in the meadow boil, And grasses on the upland broil, And all the coiling things uncoil, And eggs and meats and Christians spoil. A mile away the valley breaks (So all good valleys do) and makes A cool … Continue reading
Prayer (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
SHE would not keep at home, the foolish woman, She would not mind her precious girls and boys, She had to go, for it was Sunday morning, Down the hot road and to the barren pew And there abuse her superannuate knees To make a … Continue reading
The School (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
I WAS not drowsy though the scholars droned. Hearing the music that they made of Greek, Whenever Helen’s unforgotten face Sent other young men whisking off to war; Hearing much mention of the hecatombs, And Pericles, and fishes that were purple, Temples in white, and trees … Continue reading
Overtures (John Crowe Ransom Poems)
My dear and I, we disagreed When we had been much time together. For when will lovers learn to sail From sailing always in good weather? She said a hateful little word Between the pages of the book. I bubbled with a noble rage, I bruised … Continue reading
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