University of Virginia Library

II

the bigness of cannon
is skilful,
but i have seen
death's clever enormous voice
which hides in a fragility
of poppies. . . .
i say that sometimes
on these long talkative animals
are laid fists of huger silence.
I have seen all the silence
full of vivid noiseless boys
at Roupy
i have seen
between barrages,
the night utter ripe unspeaking girls.