The Light That Once
The light that once in prehistoric seasPropelled the lancing spermIs poisoned by the cells' diseaseTo feed the wars of rose and worm.
Then do not wake to light the sleeping girl,Nor rouse her sea-salt blood;Still round her loins let fig-leaves curl,Let angels guard her dreams from flood.
From Star-People. Reprinted with permission of Kathleen Forsythe, Cogswell's literary executor. Back to Selected Poems