Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A RHYME by DAVID IGNATOW

Poet Analysis

First Line: DO YOU KNOW -- I DON'T -- WHAT THE TROUBLE IS
Last Line: AND A VERY LONG PAUSE.
Do you know -- I don't -- what the trouble is?
It starts somewhere at the bottom
and works its way to the top.
It spreads around in a circle
until it comes to a stop,
and then it bores through the surface
and digs straight down through the ground
and what has been left standing
topples without a sound.

Do you know -- I don't -- what the trouble is?
For nothing is left of the matter
and no one can find out the cause.
It makes for some very sad chatter
and a very long pause.



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