PoemHunter.com

Fugue by Howard Nemerov

10/6/2008 7:31:17 PM
Home Poets Poems Lyrics Quotations Music Forum Search Member Area Poetry E-Books Sites Mini Quiz
 

POEMS

LYRICS

MUSIC

QUOTATIONS

SEARCH

   
Howard Nemerov Howard Nemerov
(1920 - 1991)
Free Poetry E-Book:
25 poems of Howard Nemerov

File Size: 156k  File Format: Acrobat Reader
To download the eBook right-Click on the title and select "Save Target As". more ebooks >>
   • Biography  Poems  Quotations  Comments  More Info  Stats 

 
 
<< prev. poem Poems by Howard Nemerov: 6 / 25 next poem >>
  
 
Fugue
 
  You see them vanish in their speeding cars,
The many people hastening through the world,
And wonder what they would have done before
This time of time speed distance, random streams
Of molecules hastened by what rising heat?
Was there never a world where people just sat still?

Yet they might be all of them contemplatives
Of a timeless now, drivers and passengers
In the moving cars all facing to the front
Which is the future, which is destiny,
Which is desire and desire's end -
What are they doing but just sitting still?

And still at speed they fly away, as still
As the road paid out beneath them as it flows
Moment by moment into the mirrored past;
They spread in their wake the parading fields of food,
The windowless works where who is making what,
The grey towns where the wishes and the fears are done.

Howard Nemerov


Read poems about / on: destiny, food, future, people, world, time, car, work, mirror, fear, rose

User Rating:

8.3 /10
(7 votes)



 
Comments about this poem (Fugue by Howard Nemerov)  more comments >>
Click here to write your comments about this poem (Fugue by Howard Nemerov)
 
Robert Howard (1/30/2007 10:09:00 AM)
A fascinating title. A fugue is an intricate contrapuntal musical form that Nemerov has compared to the complex interweaving of traffic. The original meaning of the word, 'fugue', is 'flight' which applies equally to the missions of the drivers.
People who read Howard Nemerov also read: More classic poets:

The complete list >>

Lyrics

The complete list >>

QuickPoll
Do you think PoemHunter.com is fast enough?
Yes
No

 Search in the World Poetry Database => 

 Search:   in:      tips
Hide the search box!

E-MAIL THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND - Found this page interesting? Recommend it to your friend! 
 Your E-mail:  
 Friend's Email:  
   
Your
Message:

 

(c) Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge..  About Us | Copyright notice | Privacy statement | Help
10/6/2008 7:31:17 PM. You Are Here: Fugue by Howard Nemerov

Home | Poets | Poems | Lyrics | Music | Quotations | Forum | Search | Random Poem | Free Poetry eBooks | Contests | Sites |
Submit a Poem | Manage Your Poems | Contact Us

Christmas Poems | Love Poems | Pablo Neruda | Death Poems | Sad Poems | Birthday Poems | Wedding Poems | Annabel Lee | Sorry Poems | Winter Poems