The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.
The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.
The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
And I am dumb to tell the hanging man
How of my clay is made the hangman’s lime.
The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather’s wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.
And I am dumb to tell the lover’s tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.
(Dylan Thomas)
More Poetry from Dylan Thomas:
Dylan Thomas Poems based on Topics: Love, Time, Nature, Water, Heaven, Age, Youth, Weather, Flowers- Being But Men (Dylan Thomas Poems)
- In Country Sleep (Dylan Thomas Poems)
- A Winter's Tale (Dylan Thomas Poems)
- Author's Prologue (Dylan Thomas Poems)
- Into Her Lying Down Head (Dylan Thomas Poems)
- In The White Giant's Thigh (Dylan Thomas Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Time Poems, Nature Poems, Youth Poems, Heaven Poems, Flowers Poems, Water Poems, Age Poems, Weather PoemsBased on Keywords: destroyer, ticked, quicksand, hangman, mouthing, leech, hauls