Epigrams

Epigrams

Richard Aldington

(A Conceit)

The noon sky, a distended vast blue sail;The sea, a parquet of coloured wood;The rock-flowers, sinister indigo sponges;Lavender leaping up, scented sulphur flames;Little butterflies, resting shut-winged, fluttering,Eyelids winking over watchet eyes.

The noon sky, a distended vast blue sail;The sea, a parquet of coloured wood;The rock-flowers, sinister indigo sponges;Lavender leaping up, scented sulphur flames;Little butterflies, resting shut-winged, fluttering,Eyelids winking over watchet eyes.

The noon sky, a distended vast blue sail;The sea, a parquet of coloured wood;The rock-flowers, sinister indigo sponges;Lavender leaping up, scented sulphur flames;Little butterflies, resting shut-winged, fluttering,Eyelids winking over watchet eyes.

The noon sky, a distended vast blue sail;

The sea, a parquet of coloured wood;

The rock-flowers, sinister indigo sponges;

Lavender leaping up, scented sulphur flames;

Little butterflies, resting shut-winged, fluttering,

Eyelids winking over watchet eyes.

They say we like London—O Hell!—They tellUs we shall never sellOur works (as if we cared).We’re “high brow” and long-hairedBecause we don’tCheat and cant.We can’t rhythm; we can’t rhyme,Just because their rag-timeBores us.These twangling lyrists are too pure for sense;So they chime,RhymeAnd time,And Slime,All praise their virtuous impotence.

They say we like London—O Hell!—They tellUs we shall never sellOur works (as if we cared).We’re “high brow” and long-hairedBecause we don’tCheat and cant.We can’t rhythm; we can’t rhyme,Just because their rag-timeBores us.These twangling lyrists are too pure for sense;So they chime,RhymeAnd time,And Slime,All praise their virtuous impotence.

They say we like London—O Hell!—They tellUs we shall never sellOur works (as if we cared).We’re “high brow” and long-hairedBecause we don’tCheat and cant.We can’t rhythm; we can’t rhyme,Just because their rag-timeBores us.

They say we like London—O Hell!—

They tell

Us we shall never sell

Our works (as if we cared).

We’re “high brow” and long-haired

Because we don’t

Cheat and cant.

We can’t rhythm; we can’t rhyme,

Just because their rag-time

Bores us.

These twangling lyrists are too pure for sense;So they chime,RhymeAnd time,And Slime,All praise their virtuous impotence.

These twangling lyrists are too pure for sense;

So they chime,

Rhyme

And time,

And Slime,

All praise their virtuous impotence.

I know a woman who is naturalAs any simple cannibal;This is a great misfortune, for her lotIs to reside with people who are not.

I know a woman who is naturalAs any simple cannibal;This is a great misfortune, for her lotIs to reside with people who are not.

I know a woman who is naturalAs any simple cannibal;This is a great misfortune, for her lotIs to reside with people who are not.

I know a woman who is natural

As any simple cannibal;

This is a great misfortune, for her lot

Is to reside with people who are not.


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