May Swenson Poems (24 Poems)
7 Days on the Sea (May Swenson Poems)
Monday The world is a ball of water. See, it is round-sided. I move across its topside, upon the world, not in it. The boat is a comb, acomb over idle white hair. Waves grow on a round skull uncountable. Sea, it is round-sided. Fog is building a vessel. Sea is … Continue reading
October (May Swenson Poems)
1A smudge for the horizonthat, on a clear day, showsthe hard edge of hills andbuildings on the other coast.Anchored boats all head one way:north, where the wind comes from.You can see the storm inflatingout of the west. A dark holein … Continue reading
Women (May Swenson Poems)
Women Or they should be should be pedestals little horses moving those wooden pedestals sweet moving oldfashioned to the painted motions rocking of men horses the gladdest things in the toyroom The feelingly pegs and then of their unfeelingly ears To be so familiar joyfully and dear ridden to the trusting rockingly fists ridden until To be chafed the restored egos dismount and the legs stride away Immobile willing sweetlipped to be set sturdy into motion and smiling Women women should be should always pedestals be … Continue reading
Fountains Of Aix (May Swenson Poems)
Beards of water some of them have. Others are blowing whistles of water. Faces astonished that constant water jumps from their mouths. Jaws of lions are snarling waterthrough green teeth over chins of moss. Dolphins toss jets of water from open snouts to an upper theater of water. Children are riding swans and water coils from the … Continue reading
Bleeding (May Swenson Poems)
Stop bleeding said the knifeI would if I could said the cut.Stop bleeding you make me messy with the blood.I’m sorry said the cut.Stop or I will sink in farther said the knife.Don’t said the cut.The knife did not say it couldn’t help it butit sank in farther.If only … Continue reading
Kiwi (May Swenson Poems)
Fruit without a stone, its shiny pulp is clear green. Inside, tiny black microdot seeds. Skin the color of khakiImagine a shaggy brown-green pelt that feels like felt. It’s oval, full-rounded, kind of egg-shaped. The rind comes off in strips when peeled with the lips. If ripe, full of juice, melon-sweet, … Continue reading
Motherhood (May Swenson Poems)
She sat on a shelf,her breasts two bellieson her poked-out belly,on which the navel lookedlike a sucked-in mouth-her knees bent and apart,her long left arm raised,with the large hand knuckledto a bar in the ceiling-her right hand clampingthe skinny infant … Continue reading
Feel Me (May Swenson Poems)
“Feel me to do right,” our father said on his deathbed.We did not quite know-in fact, not at all-what he meant.His last whisper was spent as through a slot in a wall.He left us a key, but how did it … Continue reading
Cardinal Ideograms (May Swenson Poems)
A mouth. Can blow or breathe, be a funnel, or Hello. A grass blade or a cut. A question seated. And a proud bird’s neck. Shallow mitten for two-fingered hand. Three-cornered hut on one stilt. Sometimes built so the roof gapes. A policeman. Polite. Wearing visored cap. O unrolling, tape … Continue reading
That the Soul May Wax Plump (May Swenson Poems)
My dumpy little mother on the undertaker’s slabhad a mannequin’s grace. From chin to footthe sheet outlined her, thin and tall. Her faceuptilted, bloodless, smooth, had a long smile.Her head rested on a block under her nape,her neck was long, … Continue reading
More May Swenson Poetry (Based on Topics)
View All May Swenson Poems