Howard Moss(1922–1987)
The Persistence of Song
The Persistence of Song
A l t h o u g h i t i s n o t y e t e v e n i n g ,
The secretaries have changed their frocks
As if it were time for dancing,
A n d l o c k e d u p i n t h e s c h o l a r s ' b o o k s
T h e r e i s a k i n d o f r e j o i c i n g ,
T h e r e i s a k i n d o f s i n g i n g
T h a t e v e n t h e d a r k s t o n e c a n y o n m a k e s
A s t h o u g h a l l f o u n t a i n s w e r e g o i n g
At once, and the color flowed from bricks
In one wild, lit upsurging
W h a t i s t h e w e a t h e r d o i n g ?
A n d w h o a r r i v e d o n a s c a l l o p s h e l l
W i t h t h e s m e l l o f t h e s e a t h i s m o r n i n g ? 1
— C r e a t i n g a s m a l l u p h e a v a l
High above the scaffolding,
B y s a y i n g , "All w i l l b e w e l l .
T h e r e i s a k i n d o f r e j o i c i n g ,
Is there a kind of rejoicing
In saying, "All will be well?
High above the scaffolding,
— C r e a t i n g a s m a l l u p h e a v a l
The smell of the sea this morning
Arrived on a scallop shell.
What was the weather doing
In one wild, lit upsurging
At once, the color flowed from bricks
A s t h o u g h a l l f o u n t a i n s w e r e g o i n g
And even the dark stone canyon makes
Here a kind of singing,
And there a kind of rejoicing,
A n d l o c k e d u p i n t h e s c h o l a r s ' b o o k s
There is a time for dancing
When the secretaries have changed their frocks,
And though it is not yet evening,
There is the persistence of song.