Ungrateful Species
Brady Bowen 1973 (Louisiana)
f I were a fish
explorer of darkened cobalt vaults
a ghostly gliding hiss my song
my thoughts would be liquidity
like cyan electricity
and swim, I would
If I were a bird
a zephyr-riding acrobatic singer
but one in nature’s symphony
my heart’s exclamation would be free
like the rising eyes of the released
and fly, I would
If I were a deer
a dun-coated bolt of lightning
the gentle tree-templed priest of speed
the chase would be my benediction
blessed would my journey be
and run, I would
If I were a serpent
onyx oiled coils unwinding
the hiss of a hundred syllables mine
and never have a gentle dream
reveries of red
and coil, I would
If I were a bull
ever angry at the younger kings
a rumbling, raging crownêd storm
crowned with the spears of MINE
the siring sentry
and rush, I would
If I were a wolf
a carrier of the canticle
mourning the moon’s distance eternally
my thoughts always of the pack
a collective savagery
and range, I would
Alas, to be born a man
made to sublimate one special spell
cruel barbaric baseball
harming for pleasure, taking for counting
and we accept the honor of
being the only ones
and rest, fucking rest.
I would. I will.
I do.
I.
About this poem
Squandered grace.
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Written on August 08, 2022
Submitted by BradyB999 on August 16, 2022
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:16 min read
- 9 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | XXXAAB XXAAXB XCXXAB XCDXXB EXXDAB XEAXAB XXXCXXXXXX |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 1,207 |
Words | 254 |
Stanzas | 7 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 10 |
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"Ungrateful Species" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/134396/ungrateful-species>.
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