POEMS BY MARIANNE MOORE
REINFORCEMENTS
The vestibule to experience is not to
be exalted into epic grandeur. These men are going
to their work with this idea, advancing like a school of fish through
be exalted into epic grandeur. These men are going
to their work with this idea, advancing like a school of fish through
still water—waiting to change the course or dismiss
the idea of movement, till forced to. The words of the Greeks
ring in our ears, but they are vain in comparison with a sight like this,
the idea of movement, till forced to. The words of the Greeks
ring in our ears, but they are vain in comparison with a sight like this,
The pulse of intention does not move so that one
can see it, and moral machinery is not labelled, but
the future of time is determined by the power of volition.
can see it, and moral machinery is not labelled, but
the future of time is determined by the power of volition.
ROSES ONLY
You do not seem to realise that beauty is a liability rather than
an asset—that in view of the fact that spirit creates form we are justified in
supposing
that you must have brains. For you, a symbol of the unit, stiff and sharp,
conscious of surpassing by dint of native superiority and liking for everything
self-dependent, anything an
an asset—that in view of the fact that spirit creates form we are justified in
supposing
that you must have brains. For you, a symbol of the unit, stiff and sharp,
conscious of surpassing by dint of native superiority and liking for everything
self-dependent, anything an
ambitious civilisation might produce: for you, unaided to attempt through sheer
reserve, to confute presumptions resulting from observation, is idle. You
cannot make us
think you a delightful happen-so. But rose, if you are brilliant, it
is not because your petals are the without- which-nothing of pre-eminence.
You would look, minus
thorns—like a what-is-this, a mere
reserve, to confute presumptions resulting from observation, is idle. You
cannot make us
think you a delightful happen-so. But rose, if you are brilliant, it
is not because your petals are the without- which-nothing of pre-eminence.
You would look, minus
thorns—like a what-is-this, a mere
peculiarity. They are not proof against a worm, the elements, or mildew
but what about the predatory hand? What is brilliance without co-ordina-
tion? Guarding the
infinitesimal pieces of your mind, compelling audience to
the remark that it is better to be forgotten than to be remembered too
violently,
your thorns are the best part of you.
but what about the predatory hand? What is brilliance without co-ordina-
tion? Guarding the
infinitesimal pieces of your mind, compelling audience to
the remark that it is better to be forgotten than to be remembered too
violently,
your thorns are the best part of you.
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