FAS




When the sun went down and the night came on
coming over the fields and up the driveway
to the rose arbor and the backporch posts
 
I gathered myself together from dispersing dark
and went up into the mountains
and sitting down on the round rock beyond the trees
 
kindled my thoughts
blowing the coals of my day's bright conscious
and said
 
all across the plains my voice going silently and down
among the stumps where the swamp cuts through
and in between among the villages of hill country
 
Now close your eyes
Sleep
Shut out the world from the dark sweet freshening
            of your quiet hearts
Lie loose in the deep waters
Do not be afraid to
give yourselves up to drowning in undefended rest
 
If a dust storm blows up out of the west I will run
down the mountain and go through all the homes
and wake you up
 
If a new fire appears in the sky I will let you know
in time
so you can know it should it claim you
 
I will have all your beings in mind burning like a watchfire
and when the night has grown thin and weak
and the full coyotes have given up their calls
 
I will move up close to the eternal and
saying nine praises
commend you to it and to the coming sun
 
 
 
A.R.Ammons
The Watch






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