Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HUSKS by HALA JEAN HAMMOND

First Line: SHE HAD FORESWORN ALL CREEDS
Last Line: TOWARD SYMBOL—EARTH-HIDDEN.
Subject(s): FAITH; GOD; PRAISE; RELIGION; BELIEF; CREED; THEOLOGY;

She had foresworn all creeds;
Frankly outworn as weeds
Of a drab summer;
Lipless her prayer-desire
Mounting to holy fire
Torched of dead mummer.

Winds brought to her strange notes;
Leaves chanted laws and rotes
Of a New Vision;
From dark, Autumnal mounds
Broke deep-travailed sounds
Of God-old decision.

Hers the way of all;
But—seeing; she marked the call
Of death's unshriving;
Baptismal light outpoured;
From spume of breaker soared
Loosed pinions' striving.
She broke untrodden ways;
Spending her soul in praise

At revealing Altar;
No riddle of time, nor fret,
No stalking ghost of regret,
Nor sword, to halt her.

She had foresworn all creeds;
Frankly outworn as weeds ...
Till by long sleep bidden—
".. to dust," they whisper, "returns."
But humanity's soul still yearns
@2Toward symbol—earth-hidden.@1



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