Classic Poetry Series

James Joyce

- poems -

Publication Date:

2004

Publisher:

PoemHunter.Com-TheWorld'sPoetryArchive

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A Flower Given to My Daughter

FrailthewhiteroseandfrailareHerhandsthatgaveWhosesoulissereandpalerThantime'swanwave.

Rosefrailandfair--yetfrailestAwonderwildIngentleeyesthouveilest,Myblueveinedchild.

JamesJoyce

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A Memory of the Players in a Mirror at Midnight

Theymouthlove'slanguage.GnashThethirteenteethYourleanjawsgrinwith.LashYouritchandquailing,nudegreedoftheflesh.Love'sbreathinyouisstale,wordedorsung,Assourascat'sbreath,Harshoftongue.

ThisgreythatstaresLiesnot,starkskinandbone.Leavegreasylipstheirkissing.NoneWillchooseherwhatyouseetomouthupon.Direhungerholdshishour.Pluckforthyourheart,saltblood,afruitoftears.Pluckanddevour!

JamesJoyce

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A Prayer

Again!Come,give,yieldallyourstrengthtome!FromfaralowwordbreathesonthebreakingbrainItscruelcalm,submission'smisery,Gentlingheraweastoasoulpredestined.Cease,silentlove!Mydoom!

Blindmewithyourdarknearness,Ohavemercy,belovedenemyofmywill!IdarenotwithstandthecoldtouchthatIdread.DrawfrommestillMyslowlife!Benddeeperonme,threateninghead,Proudbymydownfall,remembering,pityingHimwhois,himwhowas!

Again!Together,foldedbythenight,theylayonearth.IhearFromfarherlowwordbreatheonmybreakingbrain.Come!Iyield.Benddeeperuponme!Iamhere.Subduer,donotleaveme!Onlyjoy,onlyanguish,Takeme,saveme,sootheme,Ospareme!

JamesJoyce

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All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters

AlldayIhearthenoiseofwatersMakingmoan,Sadasthesea-birdiswhen,goingForthalone,Hehearsthewindscrytothewater'sMonotone.

Thegreywinds,thecoldwindsareblowingWhereIgo.IhearthenoiseofmanywatersFarbelow.Allday,allnight,IhearthemflowingToandfro.

JamesJoyce

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Alone

Thenoon'sgreygoldenmeshesmakeAllnightaveil,TheshorelampsinthesleepinglakeLaburnumtendrilstrail.

TheslyreedswhispertothenightAname--hername-Andallmysoulisadelight,Aswoonofshame.

JamesJoyce

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At That Hour

Atthathourwhenallthingshaverepose,Olonelywatcheroftheskies,DoyouhearthenightwindandthesighsOfharpsplayinguntoLovetouncloseThepalegatesofsunrise?

Whenallthingsrepose,doyoualoneAwaketohearthesweetharpsplayToLovebeforehimonhisway,AndthenightwindansweringinantiphonTillnightisovergone?

Playon,invisibleharps,untoLove,WhosewayinheavenisaglowAtthathourwhensoftlightscomeandgo,SoftsweetmusicintheairaboveAndintheearthbelow.

JamesJoyce

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Bahnhofstrasse

TheeyesthatmockmesignthewayWheretoIpassateveofday.

GreywaywhosevioletsignalsareThetrystingandthetwiningstar.

Ahstarofevil!starofpain!Highheartedyouthcomesnotagain

Noroldheart'swisdomyettoknowThesignsthatmockmeasIgo.

JamesJoyce

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Be Not Sad

BenotsadbecauseallmenPreferalyingclamourbeforeyou:Sweetheart,beatpeaceagain---Cantheydishonouryou?

Theyaresadderthanalltears;Theirlivesascendasacontinualsigh.Proudlyanswertotheirtears:Astheydeny,deny.

JamesJoyce

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Because Your Voice Was at My Side

BecauseyourvoicewasatmysideIgavehimpain,BecausewithinmyhandIheldYourhandagain.

ThereisnowordnoranysignCanmakeamend---HeisastrangertomenowWhowasmyfriend.

JamesJoyce

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Bid Adieu to Maidenhood

Bidadieu,adieu,adieu,Bidadieutogirlishdays,HappyLoveiscometowooTheeandwoothygirlishwaysThezonethatdothbecometheefair,Thesnooduponthyyellowhair,

WhenthouhastheardhisnameuponThebuglesofthecherubimBeginthousoftlytounzoneThygirlishbosomuntohimAndsoftlytoundothesnoodThatisthesignofmaidenhood.

JamesJoyce

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Bright Cap and Streamers

Brightcapandstreamers,Hesingsinthehollow:Comefollow,comefollow,Allyouthatlove.LeavedreamstothedreamersThatwillnotafter,ThatsongandlaughterDonothingmove.

WithribbonsstreamingHesingsthebolder;IntroopathisshoulderThewildbeeshum.AndthetimeofdreamingDreamsisover---Aslovertolover,Sweetheart,Icome.

JamesJoyce

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Dear Heart, Why Will You Use Me So?

Dearheart,whywillyouusemeso?Deareyesthatgentlymeupbraid,Stillareyoubeautiful---butO,Howisyourbeautyraimented!

Throughtheclearmirrorofyoureyes,Throughthesoftsighofkisstokiss,DesolatewindsassailwithcriesTheshadowygardenwhereloveis.

AndsoonshalllovedissolvedbeWhenoverusthewildwindsblow---Butyou,dearlove,toodeartome,Alas!whywillyouusemeso?

JamesJoyce

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Ecce Puer

OfthedarkpastAchildisborn;WithjoyandgriefMyheartistorn.

CalminhiscradleThelivinglies.MayloveandmercyUnclosehiseyes!

YounglifeisbreathedOntheglass;TheworldthatwasnotComestopass.

Achildissleeping:Anoldmangone.O,fatherforsaken,Forgiveyourson!

JamesJoyce

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Flood

GoldbrownuponthesatedfloodTherockvineclustersliftandsway;VastwingsabovethelambentwatersbroodOfsullenday.

AwasteofwatersruthlesslySwaysandupliftsitsweedymaneWherebroodingdaystaresdownupontheseaIndulldisdain.

Upliftandsway,Ogoldenvine,Yourclusteredfruitstolove'sfullflood,LambentandvastandruthlessasisthineIncertitude!

JamesJoyce

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From Dewy Dreams

Fromdewydreams,mysoul,arise,Fromlove'sdeepslumberandfromdeath,Forlo!thetreeesarefullofsighsWhoseleavesthemornadmonisheth.

EastwardthegradualdawnprevailsWheresoftly-burningfiresappear,MakingtotrembleallthoseveilsOfgreyandgoldengossamer.

Whilesweetly,gently,secretly,TheflowerybellsofmornarestirredAndthewisechoirsoffaeryBegin(innumerous!)tobeheard.

JamesJoyce

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Gentle Lady, Do Not Sing

Gentlelady,donotsingSadsongsabouttheendoflove;LayasidesadnessandsingHowlovethatpassesisenough.

SingaboutthelongdeepsleepOfloversthataredead,andhowInthegraveallloveshallsleep:Loveisawearynow.

JamesJoyce

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Go Seek Her Out

Goseekheroutallcourteously,AndsayIcome,WindofspiceswhosesongiseverEpithalamium.O,hurryoverthedarklandsAndrunupontheseaForseasandlandsshallnotdivideusMyloveandme.

Now,wind,ofyourgoodcourtesyIprayyougo,AndcomeintoherlittlegardenAndsingatherwindow;Singing:ThebridalwindisblowingForLoveisathisnoon;Andsoonwillyourtruelovebewithyou,Soon,Osoon.

JamesJoyce

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He Who Hath Glory Lost

Hewhohathglorylost,norhathFoundanysoultofellowhis,AmonghisfoesinscornandwrathHoldingtoancientnobleness,Thathighunconsortableone---Hisloveishiscompanion.

JamesJoyce

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I Hear an Army Charging Upon the Land

Ihearanarmychargingupontheland,Andthethunderofhorsesplunging,foamabouttheirknees:Arrogant,inblackarmour,behindthemstand,Disdainingthereins,withflutteringwhips,thecharioteers.

Theycryuntothenighttheirbattle-name:ImoaninsleepwhenIhearafartheirwhirlinglaughter.Theycleavethegloomofdreams,ablindingflame,Clanging,clangingupontheheartasuponananvil.

Theycomeshakingintriumphtheirlong,greenhair:Theycomeoutoftheseaandrunshoutingbytheshore.Myheart,haveyounowisdomthustodespair?Mylove,mylove,mylove,whyhaveyouleftmealone?

JamesJoyce

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I Would in That Sweet Bosom Be

Iwouldinthatsweetbosombe(Osweetitisandfairitis!)Wherenorudewindmightvisitme.BecauseofsadausteritiesIwouldinthatsweetbosombe.

Iwouldbeeverinthatheart(OsoftIknockandsoftentreather!)Whereonlypeacemightbemypart.AusteritieswereallthesweeterSoIwereeverinthatheart.

JamesJoyce

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In the Dark Pine-Wood

Inthedarkpine-woodIwouldwelay,IndeepcoolshadowAtnoonofday.

Howsweettoliethere,Sweettokiss,Wherethegreatpine-forestEnaisledis!

ThykissdescendingSweeterwereWithasofttumultOfthyhair.

Ountothepine-woodAtnoonofdayComewithmenow,Sweetlove,away.

JamesJoyce

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Lean Out of the Window

Leanoutofthewindow,Goldenhair,IhearyousingingAmerryair.

Mybookwasclosed,Ireadnomore,WatchingthefiredanceOnthefloor.

Ihaveleftmybook,Ihaveleftmyroom,ForIheardyousingingThroughthegloom.

SingingandsingingAmerryair,Leanoutofthewindow,Goldenhair.

JamesJoyce

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Lightly Come or Lightly Go

Lightlycomeorlightlygo