Jane Adam – How to Find Your Name in the Norton A


Jane Adam

How to Find Your Name
in the Norton Anthology of
Poetry


1

Yearn to be plain as life.
Oh, to be in England.  The
universe,
rooted in one dear perpetual place,
names (for these were men)
a child,
madness,
eye (love’s firmament),
harp (I would them play on gold),
elves also.
Rise and set;
either be hot or cold.

2

Johnson, this power has praise that virtue
              scarce can warm—
as of a fox, or of a cok and hen—
night’s starred face.
Enemy, divorce me:  untie or break
              that knot again.

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