Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


STILL LIFE by ANNE MILLAY BREMER

First Line: AUBERGIN AND YELLOW GLAZES
Last Line: IDLE NOW, IT LOLLS AT EASE.
Subject(s): BABIES; BROTHERS; STILLBIRTH; INFANTS; HALF-BROTHERS; DEATH - CHILDBIRTH;

AUBERGIN and yellow glazes,
Satsuma and rare old vases,
In the studio on the hilltop;
Silken curtains filter daylight,
Where the mellow shade falls softly
On a lacquered jar of rouge.

Golden glints of prisoned sunlight
Gleam within a wide-necked milk-jug,
Downy folds of scarlet velvet
Mirrored view their ruddy beauty,
And the frisking flames of firelight
Dance upon its polished surface.

On a wooden cart it rattled
In the quaint old town of Bruges;
Over stones and bumpy pavements,
Over crooked narrow streets.
Once it humbly served the many
Chubby, placid, Belgian babies.

Toddling babies cooed and prattled
While their mothers friendly gossipped.
Sun-rays skipped across its surface
In a wooden cart with others,
Ample-bellied shining brothers.

Golden glints of prisoned sunlight
Gleam within its bright brass surface;
Idle now, it lolls at ease.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net