Author: Anthony Hecht

So there stood Matthew Arnold and this girl With the cliffs of England crumbling away behind them, And he said […]

Higgledy piggeldy Archangel Rafael, Speaking of Satan’s re- Bellion from God: “Chap was decidedly Turgiversational, Given to lewdness and Rodomontade.”

What is unwisdom but the lusting after Longevity: to be old and full of days! For the vast and unremitting […]

We have set out from here for the sublime Pastures of summer shade and mountain stream; I have no doubt […]

As though it were reluctant to be day, …….Morning deploys a scale …….Of rarities in gray, And winter settles down […]

In Italy, where this sort of thing can occur, I had a vision once – though you understand It was […]

How simple the pleasures of those childhood days, Simple but filled with exquisite satisfactions. The iridescent labyrinth of the spider, […]

Third Avenue in sunlight. Nature’s error. Already the bars are filled and John is there. Beneath a plentiful lady over […]

I have been wondering What you are thinking about, and by now suppose It is certainly not me. But the […]

For Heinrich Blucher and Hannah Arendt Composed in the Tower before his execution These moving verses, and being brought at […]

I’m mighty glad to see you, Mrs. Curtis, And thank you very kindly for this visit Especially now when all […]

The harbingers are come. See, see their mark; White is their colour; and behold my head. George Herbert Long gone […]

A dying firelight slides along the quirt Of the cast iron cowboy where he leans Against my father’s books. The […]

Against the enormous rocks of a rough coast The ocean rams itself in pitched assault And spastic rage to which […]

It was a villainous spirit, snub-nosed, foul Of breath, thick-taloned and malevolent, That squatted within him wheresoever he went …….And […]

On the summer road that ran by our front porch Lizards and snakes came out to sun. It was hot […]

Samuel Sewall, in a world of wigs, Flouted opinion in his personal hair; For foppery he gave not any figs, […]

For William and Emily Maxwell At this time of day One could hear the caulking irons sound Against the hulls […]