Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth Poems

Swift things are beautiful:
Swallows and deer,
And lightening that falls
Bright-veined and clear,
...

Cat, if you go outdoors, you must walk in the snow.
You will come back with little white shoes on your feet,
little white shoes of snow that have heels of sleet.
Stay by the fire, my Cat. Lie still, do not go.
...

Fly low, vermilion dragon,
With the moon horns.
Fly down to the top of the mountains
That I may climb into your saddle
...

In the whole graveyard there is not a nymph
To rustle through the yellow fall of leaves,
Upon a tomb a pitying angel grieves,
...

Cover me over,
Cover me deep,
Leaves of silence,
Leaves of sleep ...
...

Always when Absalom returned at night,
Tired from hunting, yet adventure-filled,
'Twas Michal met him in the darkened court,
Gave him his wine and listened to his tales.
...

Moon over Japan.
White butterfly moon!
The waters wash against the sacred islands
Where steps lead down to the sea,
...

The earth's coat is the green of young willows
Beside brown streams.
It is embroidered with flowering trees-
Plum, peach and apricot.
...

Nay, bury her in her cloak; she was not one
To prison in a coffin. At her head,
When you have strewn the earth with forest leaves,
Pile apricots and peaches, apples red,
...

Prince Sung built Tsheng-leng tower
From which he might espy
Dame Sik of the smoke-like hair
And willow waist, go by.
...