Clerihew for a Damp Genius

ROBERT LOWELL

The self-control
Of Robert Lowell
Was roughly that
Of a wet house-cat.

A Caricature

Daily Dose

From Collected Poems, by Robert Lowell

HARPO MARX

Harpo Marx, your hands white-feathered the harp—
the only words you ever spoke were sound.
The movie's not always the sick man of the arts,
yours touched the stars; Harpo, your motion picture
is still life unchanging, not nature dead.
I saw you first two years before you died,
a black-and-white fall, near Fifth in Central Park;
old blond hair too blonder, old eyes too young.
Movie trucks and five police trucks wheel to wheel
like covered wagons. The crowd as much or little.
I wish I had knelt… I age to your wincing smile,
like Dante's movie, the great glistening wheel of life—
the genius happy…a generic actor. 

Daily Dose

From Life Studies and For the Union Dead, by Robert Lowell

BACK

"The farm's my own!
Back there alone,
I keep indoors, and spoil another season."

From Grandparents

Daily Dose

From Notebook, by Robert Lowell

HEADLONG

"God help the headlong rush of this existence"

From Rush