Peterson, William

English

University of New Mexico

New Mexico Quarterly
Volume 12 | Issue 1 Article 15
1942
In Praise of Figs
William Peterson
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Recommended Citation
Peterson, William. "In Praise of Figs." New Mexico Quarterly 12, 1 (1942). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nmq/vol12/iss1/15
NEW MEXICO QUARTERLY REVIEW
He has ~ swift machine that sets the words, .
1Iurriefny massing protection for the dead,
Swingiyg across the room, imprisoned birds,
Amy Lowell, John Keats and Chapman within his head.
. '
Some one in this room says, "The poets are mine.
I .shall keep, them. T~e world must not forget.
(Memdry is enough tto keep the unbroken line.
The world is dead.)" and lights a cigarette.
RAY M 0 N D 'K RE SEN SKY
SHADOW
It ~s this shadow I most dread.
NQt the sick noT' addicted figurehead,
but the dangerou~silhouette
of him that loiteis in 'the armor
of anecessarily foreboding past.
THis shadow he ~an nevermore arrest.
It is the barrier df distrpst against his neighbor..
One does not argjue mercy of this ghost.
Just as unheeded smoke can choke
a prQud and handsome sky,
so does this jealous shadow defy
the stoutest desir€s in us pious folk.
IN PRAISE OF FIGS
Your cl(j)ver-like leaves outstrip the vineyards I have seen.
No sycamore can boas~of your persuasive green,
When summer licks tlte shadows from your sticky sheen.
What bplging fruit, dmp and purple to ferment,
furnish ~estimony of passionate extravagance!
Once ddssicated black by the furious heat,
insects ~elish your biblical sweet,
and bir~ delight in plundering such cargo.
1
Peterson: In Praise of Figs
Published by UNM Digital Repository, 1942
. ".
WILLIAM PETERSON
, r
, r
"\. .
POETRY
I
i
I •
Buffeting your sturdy grey phy~ique, the ,;wind must know
and marvel at your patient persistent contemplation. .
Slave of emerald seasons and ~ummer's amethyst,
I pold your lu:p1p of ~irow in ~y fist.
i
i
I
,ANOT~ER JVENTURE
The crack' of doom I!
Sounded twics Ii
In the fire-lit room, Ii
I'
, IiAnd you, I!i I
Wri~ing some new 4dventure story,
Laid it aside •
F01[1ine JPore hOa~Ijy.
A :~n.·"fusillad,
I . •
, Was fired~ and you ~et sail
Upon a deep, cold *a.
Was Y01j1r passage ~Itormy?·'.
Did you go third class,
,I '
~ Or did you loll u~n the upper dec~
And smoke a cigarette,
, I
And :r;nakea'pass ,~
At some wan-faced iwench?
77
:~
-W:ith'love as your religion,
And you its pnest,
Who in your name received
Your'fiery baptism?
.'
....... .. 0.5&
Of course, you tOQk the boat for ,Hell;
You always'said you would, "
- Going there to meet those sultry ladies
Who.are m~re fait than good. '
~ ,
I have heard you 'mention
Cleopatra as Y<;lur,;bold intention.
2
New Mexico Quarterly, Vol. 12 [1942], Iss. 1, Art. 15
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nmq/vol12/iss1/15


In Praise of Figs

https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2066&amp;context=nmq

In Praise of Figs

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