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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Dabbler Verse: Marianne Moore « The Dabbler

Dabbler Verse: Marianne Moore « The Dabbler
Excerpt:
by Mme Boufflers, called Sentir avec Ardeur, which begins

Il faut dire en deux mots
Ce qu’on veut dire;
Les longs propos
Sont sots…

For all her apparent profligacy and luxuriance, Moore says it all en deux mots. Here’s a wonderful short poem:

A Face
‘I am not treacherous, callous, jealous, superstitious,
supercilious, venomous or absolutely hideous’:
studying and studying its expression,
exasperated desperation
though at no real impasse,
would gladly break the glass;
when love of order, ardour, uncircuitous simplicity
with an expression of inquiry, are all one needs to be!
Certain faces, a few, one or two – or one
face photographed by recollection -
to my mind, to my sight,
must remain a delight.


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