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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STATIONED by ALBERT GOLDBARTH

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: IT'S THE OTHER ONES, WHO SOON ENOUGH RETURN
Subject(s): MOURNING; BEREAVEMENT;
It's the other ones, who soon enough return
to being happy after the funeral, that are nearest
to their own deaths -- in their gaiety
and everyday distraction, they're so open

and unguarded . . . @3anything@1 could enter them;
could claim them. It's the ones who weep
incessantly that are saved for now, the ones
who have taken a little of it

into their systems: this is how
inoculation works. And sorrow is difficult,
a job: it requires time to complete.
And the tears? -- the salt

of the folk saying,
that gets sprinkled over the tail feathers
and keeps a bird from flying;
keeps it stationed in this world.

Copyright © 2001 by The Modern Poetry Association.
This poem appears in January 2001 issue of @3Poetry@1 Magazine.
http://www.poetrymagazine.org




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