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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


VOYAGE A L'INFINI by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG

First Line: THE SWAN EXISTING / IS LIKE A SONG WITH AN ACCOMPANIMENT
Last Line: WITHOUT IMAGINATION.
Subject(s): BIRDS; IMAGINATION; SWANS; FANCY;

The swan existing
Is like a song with an accompaniment
Imaginary.

Across the grassy lake,
Across the lake to the shadow of the willows,
It is accompanied by an image,
-- as by Debussy's
"Reflets dans l'eau".

The swan that is
Reflects
Upon the solitary water -- breast to breast
With the duplicity:
"The other one!"

And breast to breast it is confused.
O visionary wedding! O stateliness of the procession!
It is accompanied by the image of itself
Alone.

At night
The lake is a wide silence,
Without imagination.






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