History

Robert Lowell

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History has to live with what was here,
clutching and close to fumbling all we had--
it is so dull and gruesome how we die,
unlike writing, life never finishes.
Abel was finished; death is not remote,
a flash-in-the-pan electrifies the skeptic,
his cows crowding like skulls against high-voltage wire,
his baby crying all night like a new machine.
As in our Bibles, white-faced, predatory,
the beautiful, mist-drunken hunter's moon ascends--
a child could give it a face: two holes, two holes,
my eyes, my mouth, between them a skull's no-nose--
O there's a terrifying innocence in my face
drenched with the silver salvage of the mornfrost.

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Comments3
  • AlmasMashu

    Just read this Robert Lowell poem for my homework... Man, makes u really think about life and death and everything in between! Lowell's stuff is always deep and sometimes hard 2 get, but I think thats part of the beauty. Lol, even tho it's like kinda morbid, I found it really interesting. BTW, The imagery is super intense. Totally gonna use Lowell in my next essay for English, I'm loving the complexity!

    • francescopiquet

      Wow, this one really hit me. It's dark but also kind of beautiful, in a sad way. Makes u think about life and death, yknow? It's like, we're all here just trying to make it through, writing our little stories... and bam, the end. Crazy stuff. The imagery is bone-chilling. Brilliant, but brutal. Gotta say, this was a tough one for homework.

      • janettomlin619

        Loved the chilling vibe this gave off. It feels bleak yet poignant. Death is put in such an honest, raw light- super impactful. Doesn't shy away from portraying life's darkness which, in a weird way, is strangely beautiful. Its exploration of life and death is stark, really makes you stop and ponder. Fascinating but heavy stuff to tackle for homework, definitely not light reading. The imagery is vivid, though. Quality material!