Poems of Introspection

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="12ad4c00dduajq.gif"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stan hedges homepage"><U>Return to Homepage</U></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="141462c0.jpg" border=0 width="70" height="44" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> email:</div> <div>  sonoflawrence@yahoo.co.uk</div> <div> (Not live link. Copy & Paste)</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5_alphabetical_list.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" poetry collection"><U>For complete list of poems</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5_alphabetical_list.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" poetry collection"><U>CLICK here</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U><B>Miscellaneous Poems</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U><B>Recent Poems </B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U><B>Poems of Reflection</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U><B>Poems of Introspection</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U><B>Poems in a Dark Time </B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="alphabetical_list"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114_a_small_request_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>A small request</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_a_virgin_soldier_at_dawn.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>A Virgin Soldier at Dawn</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_an_old_poet_with_highs_and_lows_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U> An old poet with highs and lows</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_and_he_answered_thus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>And He answered thus</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_andrew_walker___in_memoriam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Andrew Walker</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_any__umberellas_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>Any 'Umberellas'</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_beethoven_s_violin_concerto.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Beethoven Sonnet</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_blood_letting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Blood-letting</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_blues_for_the_muse.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Blues for the muse</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_caravella_tours____portugal_s_best_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Caravella Tours</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_m.htm#children_in_a_playground_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>Children at play </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_cool_man_cool.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Cool, man, cool</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_dawn_at_the_disco.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>Dawn at the disco</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_divine_adultery.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Divine adultery</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_emma_is_leaving.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Emma is leaving</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_few_things_are_constant.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Few Things are Constant</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_freudian_insight.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Freudian insight</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_m.htm#hope_springs_____1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>Hope Springs</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_in_defence_of_mediocrity.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>In defence of mediocrity</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_last_words_of_a_romantic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Last Words of a Romantic</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_lie_fallow.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>Lie fallow</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_municipal_dwellings.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>Municipal dwellings</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_my_darling_lucy_lou.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>My darling Lucy-Lou</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_m.htm#ode_of_a_humpty_grumpty__1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>Ode of a Humpty Grumpty</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_on_glances_from_a_young_girl.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>On glances from a girl</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_on_parting_from_ziggy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>On parting from Ziggy</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_on_self_pity_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>On self-pity</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_once_upon_a_merry_moon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Once upon a merry moon</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_our_wish__for_emma_and_richard.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>Our Wish for Emma...</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_so_near_a_saint_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>So near a saint</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_thank_you_for_the_note.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>Thank you for the note</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_m.htm#the_continuum_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>The continuum</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_the_first_death_sentence.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>The first death sentence</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_the_pantheist_meets_his_brother.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>The pantheist</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_the_poet_s_new_clothes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>The poet's new clothes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_the_spoils_of_war_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>The spoils of war</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_this_sleep_of_love_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>This sleep of love</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_thoughts_in_a_college_garden.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Thoughts in a college garden</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_to_a_wife_unknown.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>To a wife unknown</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_valediction_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Valediction</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_we_had_our_quarrels_you_and_i.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>We had our quarrels...</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_what_is_needless_to_say.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>What is needless to say</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_wingless_with_the_birds__.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Wingless with the birds</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5_top.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" poetry collection"><U>Return to Top</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stan hedges homepage"><U>Return to Homepage</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>Poems of Introspection </B></I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="18e5e030.gif" border=0 width="350" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="behind_the_mask_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Behind the mask</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Look into the candle's flame, </div> <div> see its core, </div> <div> that cone of blue transparent air,</div> <div> as it struggles to breathe, </div> <div> struggles to shine </div> <bR> <div> while the white and the orange </div> <div> vie with each other to capture the eye. </div> <div> Hugging the limelight; </div> <div> their brilliance obscures,</div> <div> overwhelming our senses.</div> <bR> <div> Encompassed, </div> <div> surrounded by the outer flame, </div> <div> the inner light is of a cooler, </div> <div> different meat; </div> <div> a different temper; </div> <div> but once seen, </div> <div> will fascinate far longer.</div> <bR> <div> Though none may know our minds </div> <div> and not be scorched, </div> <div> it still remains the only thing </div> <div> I recommend a child should seek.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="elementary_ethics_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Elementary Ethics</B></div> <bR> <div> The cat was hungry;</div> <div> the bird was too;</div> <div> the worm wriggled on in search of food.</div> <div> The bird did not see the cat,</div> <div> but you saw it all.</div> <div> And one must die.</div> <div> The cat crouched low;</div> <div> the bird cocked an ear;</div> <div> the worm wriggled on....</div> <div> You know so much?</div> <div> It's your turn to choose.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="children_in_a_playground_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Children in a Playground</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Ringing screams of ring a' roses</div> <div> Pockets full of joy, unremarked.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="the_continuum_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>The Continuum</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Each day we live some otherness dies;</div> <div> until we die, we eat the living. </div> <div> Yesterday, I ate plant roots </div> <div> and meat from slaughtered beasts;</div> <div> today I eat soft mushrooms. </div> <div> Sometimes I take from crying babes.</div> <bR> <div> Until we die, we crush the oppressed;</div> <div> yesterday, a sweated black-eyed Hindu boy,</div> <div> some days a virgin Taiwanese. </div> <div> Until we die we eat the living</div> <div> and seldom taste their bile.</div> <div> Thus, artfully, dead and living fuse.</div> <div> The earth awaits; our flesh grows fat; </div> <div> it plumps and grows to decompose </div> <div> within that mouldering maw</div> <div> where all is food for something's mouth.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="ode_of_a_humpty_grumpty__1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Ode of a Humpty Grumpty </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Amazed by mewling stars untouched by time, </div> <div> (Still puking, young as ever), wise men don't fear </div> <div> Old bony death. And age can seem sublime </div> <div> When shifted to the lean and slippered year, </div> <div> A welcome bay of calm; though loss of sense </div> <div> To music, passion, song and laughter, kiss </div> <div> Of wife and daughters, sun and rain, commence </div> <div> To haunt him now. No man's prepared for this. </div> <bR> <div> Wrapped in vinegar and soft brown paper </div> <div> Half his battling breadth; nevertheless, how </div> <div> (Not why, or if) to applaud the lifelong caper </div> <div> Is what preoccupies his gazing, now </div> <div> He knows no sages, poets, no singing men, </div> <div> Can put Humpty Grumpty together again.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="hope_springs_____1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Hope Springs ...</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> We hide our dead in haste</div> <div> yet there on the blossom-heavy bough,</div> <div> among the quickening flowers,</div> <div> naked for all to see,</div> <div> hangs one rotten fruit.</div> <div> It goes tardy to its grave. </div> <div> But graves are patient. </div> <bR> <div> Gaunt and gibbeted</div> <div> this fruit of last year's cradling</div> <div> is gnarled and shrunken now,</div> <div> shrivelled to a crinkled black;</div> <div> yet home still,</div> <div> still among its nascent cousins.</div> <bR> <div> And though no starker sign </div> <div> could show more clear </div> <div> the outcome of their enterprise</div> <div> (for it's no perpetual suffering Christ </div> <div> who dangles on their tree till doom),</div> <div> the siren blossoms sing their song</div> <div> to conspiratorial bees.</div> <div> A busying murmur speaks eternal:</div> <div> bring out your living,</div> <div> hang garlands on the trees.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="some favourite poems"><U>Poems I wish I'd written</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Autobiography"><U>Memoir of early life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" selection of Short Stories"><U>Short stories</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="epitaphs Id die for! "><U>Epitaphs I'd die for</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="miscellany"><U>Miscellany</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="about me"><U>About the author</U></A></div> <div>  </div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stan hedges homepage"><U><B>Return to Home Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Visitors are welcome to use anything on this site for their own personal use. However,  please note that personal copyright is reserved on my own creative material, which may not be copied for redistribution to third parties without prior written consent. </div> <div> © S. T. Hedges <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#9933CC" FACE="Times New Roman" >2007</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>