Thoreau in Italy (Robert Francis Poems)
Lingo of birds was easier than lingo of peasants-they were elusive, though, the birds, for excellent reasons.He thought of Virgil, ...
Robert Francis Poems (39 Poems)
Hallelujah: A Sestina (Robert Francis Poems)
A wind's word, the Hebrew Hallelujah.I wonder they never gave it to a boy(Hal for short) boy with wind-wild hair.It ...
Encounter (Robert Francis Poems)
Those who have touched it or been touched by itOr brushed by something that the vine has brushed,Or burning it, ...
On a Theme by Frost (Robert Francis Poems)
Amherst never had a witchO Coos or of GraftonBut once upon a timeThere were three old women.One wore a small ...
Squash in Blossom (Robert Francis Poems)
How lush, how loose, the uninhibited squash is.If ever hearts (and these immoderate leavesAre vegetable hearts) were worn on sleeves,The ...
New England Mind (Robert Francis Poems)
My mind matches this understand land.Outdoors the pencilled tree, the wind-carved drift,Indoors the constant fire, the careful thriftAre facts that ...
Summons (Robert Francis Poems)
Keep me from going to sleep too soonOr if I go to sleep too soonCome wake me up. Come any ...
Symbol (Robert Francis Poems)
The winter apples have been picked, the garden turned.Rain and wind have picked the maple leaves and gone.The last of ...
Catch (Robert Francis Poems)
Two boys uncoached are tossing a poem together,Overhand, underhand, backhand, sleight of hand, everyhand,Teasing with attitudes, latitudes, interludes, altitudes,High, make ...
In Memoriam: Four Poets (Robert Francis Poems)
1Searock his tower above the sea,Searock he built, not ivory.Searock as well his haunted artWho gave to plunging hawks his ...
Paper Men To Air Hopes And Fears (Robert Francis Poems)
The first speaker saidFear fire. Fear furnacesIncinerators, the city dumpThe faint scratch of a match.The second speaker saidFear water. Fear ...
Farm Boy After Summer (Robert Francis Poems)
A seated statue of himself he seems.A bronze slowness becomes him. PatentlyThe page he contemplates he doesn't see.The lesson, the ...
Silent Poem (Robert Francis Poems)
backroad leafmold stonewall chipmunkunderbrush grapevine woodchuck shadblowwoodsmoke cowbarn honeysuckle woodpilesawhorse bucksaw outhouse wellsweepbackdoor flagstone bulkhead buttermilkcandlestick ragrug firedog brownbreadhilltop outcrop ...
Glass (Robert Francis Poems)
Words of a poem should be glassBut glass so simple-subtle its shapeIs nothing but the shape of what it holds.A ...
Waxwings (Robert Francis Poems)
Four Tao philosophers as cedar waxwingschat on a February berry bushin sun, and I am one.Such merriment and such sobriety--the ...
Blue Winter (Robert Francis Poems)
Winter uses all the blues there are.One shade of blue for water, one for ice,Another blue for shadows over snow.The ...
Sheep (Robert Francis Poems)
From where I stand the sheep stand stillAs stones against the stony hill.The stones are grayAnd so are they.And both ...
The Bulldozer (Robert Francis Poems)
Bull by dayAnd dozes by night.Would that the bulldozerDozed all the timeWould that the bulldozerWould rust in peace.His watchwordLet not ...
Fair And Unfair (Robert Francis Poems)
The beautiful is fair. The just is fair.Yet one is commonplace and one is rare,One everywhere, one scarcely anywhere.So fair ...
The Bulldozer (Robert Francis Poem)
Bull by day And dozes by night. Would that the bulldozer Dozed all the time Would that the bulldozer Would ...
Squash in Blossom (Robert Francis Poem)
How lush, how loose, the uninhibited squash is. If ever hearts (and these immoderate leaves Are vegetable hearts) were worn ...
Thoreau in Italy (Robert Francis Poem)
Lingo of birds was easier than lingo of peasants- they were elusive, though, the birds, for excellent reasons. He thought ...
Waxwings (Robert Francis Poem)
Four Tao philosophers as cedar waxwings chat on a February berry bush in sun, and I am one. Such merriment ...
Summons (Robert Francis Poem)
Keep me from going to sleep too soon Or if I go to sleep too soon Come wake me up. ...
Return (Robert Francis Poem)
This little house sows the degrees By which wood can return to trees. Weather has stained the shingles dark And ...
Sheep (Robert Francis Poem)
From where I stand the sheep stand still As stones against the stony hill. The stones are gray And so ...
New England Mind (Robert Francis Poem)
My mind matches this understand land. Outdoors the pencilled tree, the wind-carved drift, Indoors the constant fire, the careful thrift ...
In Memoriam: Four Poets (Robert Francis Poem)
1 Searock his tower above the sea, Searock he built, not ivory. Searock as well his haunted art Who gave ...
Paper Men To Air Hopes And Fears (Robert Francis Poem)
The first speaker said Fear fire. Fear furnaces Incinerators, the city dump The faint scratch of a match. The second ...
Fair And Unfair (Robert Francis Poem)
The beautiful is fair. The just is fair. Yet one is commonplace and one is rare, One everywhere, one scarcely ...