Sunday Morning by Wallace Stevens Flashcards
(29 cards)
Complacencies of the peignoir, and late
Coffee and oranges in a sunny chair,
Coffee and oranges in a sunny chair,
And the green freedom of a cockatoo
And the green freedom of a cockatoo
Upon a rug mingle to dissipate
Upon a rug mingle to dissipate
The holy hush of ancient sacrifice.
The holy hush of ancient sacrifice.
She dreams a little, and she feels the dark
She dreams a little, and she feels the dark
Encroachment of that old catastrophe,
Encroachment of that old catastrophe,
As a calm darkens among water lights.
As a calm darkens among water lights.
The pungent oranges and bright, green wings
The pungent oranges and bright, green wings
Seem things in some procession of the dead,
Seem things in some procession of the dead,
Winging across wide water, without sound.
Winging across wide water, without sound.
The day is like wide water, without sound,
The day is like wide water, without sound,
Stilled for the passing of her dreaming feet
Stilled for the passing of her dreaming feet
Over the seas, to silent Palestine,
Over the seas, to silent Palestine,
Dominion of the blood and sepulchre.
Dominion of the blood and sepulchre.
Why should she give her bounty to the dead?
Why should she give her bounty to the dead?
What is divinity if it can come
What is divinity if it can come
Only in silent shadows and in dreams?
Only in silent shadows and in dreams?
Shall she not find in comforts of the sun,
Shall she not find in comforts of the sun,
In pungent fruit and bright, green wings, or else
In pungent fruit and bright, green wings, or else
In any balm or beauty of the earth,
In any balm or beauty of the earth,
Things to be cherished like the thought of heaven?
Things to be cherished like the thought of heaven?
Divinity must live within herself:
Divinity must live within herself:
Passions of rain, or moods in falling snow;
Passions of rain, or moods in falling snow;
Grievings in loneliness, or unsubdued
