“Prothalamium”
“Come, all you who are not satisfied
as ruler in a lone, wallpapered room
full of mute birds, and flowers that falsely bloom.
and closets choked with dreams that long ago died!
Come, let us sweep the old streets–like a bride:
sweep out dead leaves with a relentless broom;
prepare for Spring, as though he were our groom
for whose light footstep eagerly we bide.
We’ll sweep out shadows. where the rats long fed;
sweep out our shame–and in it’s place we’ll make
a bower for love, a splendid marriage-bed
fragrant with flowers acquiver for the Spring.
And when he comes, our murdered dreams shall wake;
and when he comes, all the mute birds shall sing.”
Aaron Kramer.
Excerpted from “Prodigal Summer”, author Barbara Kingsolver,
published by HarperCollins Publishers Inc.,
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022.
Remarkably heartfelt, this novel quite moved me.
Islander.
We’ll sweep out shadows, where the rats