H. D.(HILDA DOOLITTLE) (1886–1961)
Wine Bowl
I w i l l r i s e
f r o m m y t r o t h
w i t h t h e d e a d ,
I w i l l s w e e t e n m y c u p
a n d m y b r e a d
w i t h a g i f t ;
I w i l l c h i s e l a b o w l f o r t h e w i n e ,
f o r t h e w h i t e w i n e
a n d r e d ;
I will summon a Satyr to dance, 3
a C e n t a u r ,
a N y m p h
a n d a F a u n ;
I w i l l p i c t u r e
a w a r r i o r K i n g ,
a G i a n t ,
a N a i a d ,
a M o n s t e r ;
I w i l l c u t r o u n d t h e r i m o f t h e c r a t e r , 4
some simple
f a m i l i a r t h i n g ,
v i n e l e a v e s
o r t h e s e a - s w a l l o w ' s w i n g ;
I w i l l w o r k a t e a c h s e p a r a t e p a r t
till my mind is worn out
a n d m y h e a r t :
i n m y s k u l l ,
w h e r e t h e v i s i o n h a d b i r t h ,
w i l l c o m e w i n e ,
would pour song
o f t h e h o t e a r t h ,
o f t h e f l o w e r a n d t h e s w e e t
o f t h e h i l l ,
thyme,
m e a d o w - p l a n t ,
g r a s s - b l a d e a n d s o r r e l ;
i n m y s k u l l ,
f r o m w h i c h v i s i o n t o o k f l i g h t ,
w i l l c o m e w i n e ,
will pour song
o f t h e c o o l n i g h t ,
o f t h e s i l v e r a n d b l a d e o f t h e m o o n ,
o f t h e s t a r ,
o f t h e s u n ' s k i s s a t m i d n o o n ;
I w i l l c h a l l e n g e t h e r e e d - p i p e
a n d s t r i n g e d l y r e , 5
t o s i n g s w e e t e r ,
p i p e w i l d e r ,
p r a i s e l o u d e r
the fragrance and sweet
o f t h e w i n e j a r ,
till e a c h l o v e r
m u s t s u m m o n a n o t h e r ,
t o p r o f f e r a r o s e
w h e r e all flowers a r e ,
i n t h e d e p t h s o f t h e e x q u i s i t e c r a t e r ;
f l o w e r w i l l f a l l u p o n f l o w e r
till t h e r e d s h o w e r
i n f l a m e all
with intimate fervor;
till:
m e n w h o t r a v e l a f a r
w i l l l o o k u p ,
s e n s i n g g r a p e
a n d h i l l - s l o p e
i n t h e c u p ;
m e n w h o s l e e p b y t h e w o o d
w i l l a r i s e ,
h e a r i n g r i p p l e a n d f a l l
of the tide,
b e i n g d r a w n b y t h e s p e l l o f t h e s e a ;
t h e b o w l w i l l e n s n a r e a n d e n c h a n t
m e n w h o c r o u c h b y t h e h e a r t h
till t h e y w a n t
but the riot of stars in the night;
t h o s e w h o d w e l l f a r i n l a n d
w i l l s e e k s h i p s ;
t h e d e e p - s e a f i s h e r ,
p l y i n g h i s n e t s ,
will forsake them
f o r w h e a t - s h e a v e s a n d l o a m ;
m e n w h o w a n d e r
will yearn for their home,
men at home
will depart.
I w i l l r i s e
from my troth with the dead,
I w i l l s w e e t e n m y c u p
a n d m y b r e a d
w i t h a g i f t ;
I will chisel a howl for the wine,
f o r t h e w h i t e w i n e
a n d r e d ;