Dylan Thomas(1914–1953)
The Force That Through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower
The Force That Through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
A n d I a m d u m b t o t e l l t h e c r o o k e d r o s e
M y y o u t h i s b e n t b y t h e s a m e w i n t r y f e v e r .
The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
A n d I a m d u m b t o m o u t h u n t o m y v e i n s
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.
T h e h a n d t h a t w h i r l s t h e w a t e r i n t h e p o o l 1
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
A n d I a m d u m b t o t e l l t h e h a n g i n g m a n
How of my clay is made the hangman's lime. 2
The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.
And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet3 goes the same crooked worm.