Crude Lament

Crude Lament

William Carlos Williams, 1883 - 1963

       Mother of flames,

       The men that went ahunting

Are asleep in the snow drifts.

       You have kept the fire burning!

Crooked fingers that pull

Fuel from among the wet leaves,

       Mother of flames

       You have kept the fire burning!

The young wives have fallen asleep

With wet hair, weeping,

       Mother of flames!

The young men raised the heavy spears

And are gone prowling in the darkness.

       O mother of flames,

       You who have kept the fire burning!

       Lo, I am helpless!

Would God they had taken me with them!