A Waterfront for Allan Ross MacDougall
There are two sides to it:
the port at the quay holding sweet hay and fodder
for the prows and the flanks in the water leaping
wilder and shyer than foals at the halter.
Or the beach pure as linen with ornaments brought there
by night on the tide and set down for the feasting:
sea-urchins and molluscs and long loving octopus arms
clasped blushing in death as they wither.
Such is the sea and the coast there
dry as a skull and the foliage
needled and thorned and fruitless
and the white sand borne by the mistral
fir by fir to the dancing.
THE TRAGEDY Knowing that the springs have swung low year after year for sailors sleeping but once in the room and passing, knowing that the heart strikes there in solitude mighty as a ship's black shuddering heart: Maxim I'm sending you this few lines to ask you to write Maxim just to say what were they the reasons for why you didn't come back Sunday Maxim why was it you went to the trouble you did to tell me all the things you did Maxim you might as well know I don't think you're much of a man by this time you can be sure of that. My God Maxim I was the poor fool I'll say to believe what you said I should have looked out it's about time now I got myself caught. You can take the credit too for the way I cry all the time Maxim I won't keep it from you any longer that I love you and I'll always love you like the song says for always Maxim I'll love the baby the dear little thing that's coming you can be sure I'll do everything like a mother Maxim to bring him up right I'll give him a good home and the best of everything Maxim as for my life it's finished unless you would do what you promised to didn't you Maxim. If you would do that you won't be sorry. I'll make things nice for you I'll go on the street if that would please you Maxim I've got a place cooking for a family until I'm 21 Maxim when I can get into a house and be no better than a prostitute to bring up the dear little boy. Now Maxim if you want to answer about the little baby that's coming like a father would here's my address of one who will always be crying for her Maxim until he does what he said he would and then we'll have a nice life together like I wrote. Knowing the whisper and hush of vessels moored and unsaddled and their bridles laid aside for the night.
There are two sides to it:
the storming and the fair weather
and the sea outspoken as a man speaks
or its peace held fawning
quiet and sly like a woman
There are the green waters folded and unfolded
and the sea stamping at night
offering love like a negress dancing.
Scotland, it might be, without the shadow or the wet cheeks
of the highlands but the fog with a match to it
the heather and the gorse ablaze there
the lakes of the country ignited.
THE COMEDY St Raphael and towns to eastward stand (gentlemen gentlemen hasten past this shore) in frescoes baked upon the peeling land, fancy as valentines in summer would outdo (gentlemen money has a hollow ring) the pink of dawn and rival southern blue (gentlemen give me this instead) the toiling ocean bears with their pretense (gentlemen gentlemen drown your wavy hair) save, when the seasons change, its eloquence hurls wild on Agay and such flippant places (build your courage blast by blast) whose walls are painted like unworthy faces. (Gentlemen learn ignorance like a book) let those who cherish a proud and fervent heart (gentlemen tear the hair upon your chests) turn westward on the wedded roads that part at Frejus (gentlemen gentlemen flattery withers fast) and with ribboned espadrilles on follow the long white lonely sands (gentlemen speak of what you know) to Toulon, stopping wherever the nets are out and giving (gentlemen what have you to give?) hand to the seamen, dine where Meille is living (crack the lobsters claw by shell) the maquis makes a mattress white as ether here (gentlemen gentlemen put your words away.)
the port at the quay holding sweet hay and fodder
for the prows and the flanks in the water leaping
wilder and shyer than foals at the halter.
Or the beach pure as linen with ornaments brought there
by night on the tide and set down for the feasting:
sea-urchins and molluscs and long loving octopus arms
clasped blushing in death as they wither.
Such is the sea and the coast there
dry as a skull and the foliage
needled and thorned and fruitless
and the white sand borne by the mistral
fir by fir to the dancing.
THE TRAGEDY Knowing that the springs have swung low year after year for sailors sleeping but once in the room and passing, knowing that the heart strikes there in solitude mighty as a ship's black shuddering heart: Maxim I'm sending you this few lines to ask you to write Maxim just to say what were they the reasons for why you didn't come back Sunday Maxim why was it you went to the trouble you did to tell me all the things you did Maxim you might as well know I don't think you're much of a man by this time you can be sure of that. My God Maxim I was the poor fool I'll say to believe what you said I should have looked out it's about time now I got myself caught. You can take the credit too for the way I cry all the time Maxim I won't keep it from you any longer that I love you and I'll always love you like the song says for always Maxim I'll love the baby the dear little thing that's coming you can be sure I'll do everything like a mother Maxim to bring him up right I'll give him a good home and the best of everything Maxim as for my life it's finished unless you would do what you promised to didn't you Maxim. If you would do that you won't be sorry. I'll make things nice for you I'll go on the street if that would please you Maxim I've got a place cooking for a family until I'm 21 Maxim when I can get into a house and be no better than a prostitute to bring up the dear little boy. Now Maxim if you want to answer about the little baby that's coming like a father would here's my address of one who will always be crying for her Maxim until he does what he said he would and then we'll have a nice life together like I wrote. Knowing the whisper and hush of vessels moored and unsaddled and their bridles laid aside for the night.
There are two sides to it:
the storming and the fair weather
and the sea outspoken as a man speaks
or its peace held fawning
quiet and sly like a woman
There are the green waters folded and unfolded
and the sea stamping at night
offering love like a negress dancing.
Scotland, it might be, without the shadow or the wet cheeks
of the highlands but the fog with a match to it
the heather and the gorse ablaze there
the lakes of the country ignited.
THE COMEDY St Raphael and towns to eastward stand (gentlemen gentlemen hasten past this shore) in frescoes baked upon the peeling land, fancy as valentines in summer would outdo (gentlemen money has a hollow ring) the pink of dawn and rival southern blue (gentlemen give me this instead) the toiling ocean bears with their pretense (gentlemen gentlemen drown your wavy hair) save, when the seasons change, its eloquence hurls wild on Agay and such flippant places (build your courage blast by blast) whose walls are painted like unworthy faces. (Gentlemen learn ignorance like a book) let those who cherish a proud and fervent heart (gentlemen tear the hair upon your chests) turn westward on the wedded roads that part at Frejus (gentlemen gentlemen flattery withers fast) and with ribboned espadrilles on follow the long white lonely sands (gentlemen speak of what you know) to Toulon, stopping wherever the nets are out and giving (gentlemen what have you to give?) hand to the seamen, dine where Meille is living (crack the lobsters claw by shell) the maquis makes a mattress white as ether here (gentlemen gentlemen put your words away.)
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