VOYAGER

so in my survey lit class, we're (oh so slowly) going through all the major poets of the early 20th century. and as much as I love poetry- and I do love poetry; a love conceived outside of teacher's lessons plans and more or less spurred on by Def Leppard lyrics- I was very upset to know my professor's idea to skip one of my favorites: HART CRANE.

W! T! F! Ever since I started reading him a few years back, I felt the sense of a kindred spirit with Hart Crane. for a myriad of reasons I will not go into. nonetheless, I'm very disappointed with my professor's choice. HOW DO YOU BEAT ANY PART OF "VOYAGES?"

Infinite consanguinity it bears

This tendered theme of you that light

Retrieves from sea plains where the sky

Resigns a breast that every wave enthrones;

While ribboned water lanes I wind

Are laved and scattered with no stroke

Wide from your side, whereto this hour

The sea lifts, also, reliquary hands.

And so, admitted through black swollen gates

That must arrest all distance otherwise,

Past whirling pillars and lithe pediments,

Light wrestling there incessantly with light,

Star kissing star through wave on wave unto

Your body rocking! and where death, if shed,

Presumes no carnage, but this single change,-

Upon the steep floor flung from dawn to dawn

The silken skilled transmemberment of song;

Permit me voyage, love, into your hands . .

I would like to emulate him. well, except the whole falling-off-a-boat thing. not so cool.

- Brittany "be back in a hot minute"