The Old Prison Poem by Judith Wright

The Old Prison

Rating: 4.0


The rows of cells are unroofed,
a flute for the wind's mouth,
who comes with a breath of ice
from the blue caves of the south.

O dark and fierce day:
the wind like an angry bee
hunts for the black honey
in the pits of the hollow sea.

Waves of shadow wash
the empty shell bone-bare,
and like a bone it sings
a bitter song of air.

Who built and laboured here?
The wind and the sea say
-Their cold nest is broken
and they are blown away-

They did not breed nor love,
each in his cell alone
cried as the wind now cries
through this flute of stone.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
shiji s 29 January 2019

It is a very heart touching poem. i enjoyed very much

2 2 Reply
Anonomous 08 August 2018

Love the poem, it has a very strong meaning

1 1 Reply
anonomous 03 May 2018

The assonance of this poem is really hard.

2 1 Reply
Susan Witman 23 April 2008

At least 2 very beautiful stanzas yet over all a great flow.

10 4 Reply
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Judith Wright

Judith Wright

New South Wales / Australia
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