Adolescence
Claude McKay 1889 (Clarendon Parish) – 1948 (Chicago)
There was a time when in late afternoon
The four-o'clocks would fold up at day's close
Pink-white in prayer, and 'neath the floating moon
I lay with them in calm and sweet repose.
And in the open spaces I could sleep,
Half-naked to the shining worlds above;
Peace came with sleep and sleep was long and deep,
Gained without effort, sweet like early love.
But now no balm--nor drug nor weed nor wine--
Can bring true rest to cool my body's fever,
Nor sweeten in my mouth the acid brine,
That salts my choicest drink and will forever.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 30, 2023
- 30 sec read
- 355 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AXAX BCBC DEDE |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 540 |
Words | 100 |
Stanzas | 3 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4 |
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"Adolescence" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/6841/adolescence>.
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