Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


IN THE SLEEP OF REASON by THOMAS MCGRATH

First Line: THE PILOT, RETURNED, SEES THE VILLAGE
Last Line: At 40,000 feet
Subject(s): AIR FORCE - UNITED STATES; FILM (PHOTOGRAPHY); NEWS; WAR;

The pilot, returned, sees the village
Unwrap itself
in slow motion
Releasing its nameless people into history,
On film.

But he is still up there,
Dreaming,
With his toy gun
Lying in the high grass
At 40,000 feet.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org



Home: PoetryExplorer.net