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Lewis Grandison Alexander (1900-1945)

Japanese Hokku

I
Life goes by moving,
Up and down a chain of moods
Wanting whatÂ’s nothing.

II
My soul is the wind
Dashing down fields of Autumn:
O, too swift to sing.

III
I shall spend my moods
Like a rose discards leaves
And die without moods.

IV
My ears burn for speech
And you lie cold and silent.
Supinely cruel:

V
Look at the white moon
The sphinx does not question more.
Turn away your eyes.

VI
The poetry of life?
NO, the picture of my dreams
Flashing on my heart.

Opportunity. New York: Urban League, September 1925.

 

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