Song for the Death of My Uncle in Illinois

Here is such perfection as the world dreamed of.

But earth receives him, and the worms begin to choir

Even as the boys are singing Te Deum Laudamus.

There, is the perfection man knows not of.

And as the heavy burden of the years

(I wept no tear) bore Honour, Justice, Fame

I made a solemn resolution; I would

Dole the dream beyond the earth and sky,

Erect an arbitrary word and sign,

For sightlessness the seeing word,

For thoughtlessness a sacred chamber music,

Mysterious from the womb unto the tomb

Idea's, Ideas' flying!

These things I thought on a humid day

These things I felt as the world whirled away

(The saving elf out of the serving bourse),

Walking stiff-collared behind the Packard hearse.

Structure

17 lines · 5 stanzas