|
|
 |
|
|
User Rating: |
|
8.2
/10
(45
votes)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine...
-Jacques Crickillon
You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.
However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.
It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.
And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.
It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.
I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.
I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.
Anonymous submission.
Billy Collins
|
|
Read poems about / on: mirror, fish, star, woman, house, rain, moon, wind, sun, world, women, fishing, tree
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Comments about this poem (Litany
by
Billy Collins
) |
|
Click here to write your
comments about this poem (Litany by
Billy Collins
)
 |
Shannon Swanson
(9/14/2008 8:43:00 PM) |
This poem isn't about love at all - he's making fun of the overuse of objects as symbols. It's basically showing how symbolism isn't symbolic when over done, not how he loves someone.
|
|
|
|
Fifi Trixiebelle
(4/3/2007 12:47:00 PM) |
This is one of my all time favorite love poems. Billy Collins is brilliant.
|
|
Read all
2
comments >>
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
People who read
Billy Collins
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
