wade
through black jade.
Of the crow-blue mussel-shells, one keeps
adjusting the ash-heaps;
opening and shutting itself like
an
injured fan.
The barnacles which encrust the side
of the wave, cannot hide
there for the submerged shafts of the
sun,
split like spun
glass, move themselves with spotlight swiftness
into the crevices-
in and out, illuminating
the
turquoise sea
of bodies. The water drives a wedge
of iron throught the iron edge
of the cliff; whereupon the stars,
pink
rice-grains, ink-
bespattered jelly fish, crabs like green
lilies, and submarine
toadstools, slide each on the other.
All
external
marks of abuse are present on this
defiant edifice-
all the physical features of
ac-
cident-lack
of cornice, dynamite grooves, burns, and
hatchet strokes, these things stand
out on it; the chasm-side is
dead.
Repeated
evidence ahs proved that it can live
on what can not revive
its youth. The sea grows old in it.
(Marianne Moore)
More Poetry from Marianne Moore:
Marianne Moore Poems based on Topics: Water, Youth- An Octopus (Marianne Moore Poems)
- Spenser's Island (Marianne Moore Poems)
- He Digesteth Harde Yron (Marianne Moore Poems)
- His Shield (Marianne Moore Poems)
- Roses Only (Marianne Moore Poems)
- To an Intra-mural Rat (Marianne Moore Poems)
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