William Jay Smith, "The World Below the Window"

Collected in Smith's POEMS, 1947-57 (Boston: Little Brown, 1957)


The World below the Window

The geraniums I left last night on the window sill,
To the best of my knowledge now, are out there still,
And will be there as long as I think they will.

And will be there as long as I think that I
Can throw the window open on the sky,
A touch of geranium pink in the tail of my eye;

As long as I think I see, past leaves green-growing,
Barges moving down a river, water flowing,
Fulfillment in the thought of thought outgoing,

Fulfillment in the sight of sight replying,
Of sound in the soun of small birds southward flying,
In the life life-giving, and in death undying.


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Last modified: Wednesday, 18-Jul-2007 16:28:40 EDT