Whitman

by Alfred Kreymborg

After we've had
our age of gold
and sung our song of brass,
fingers will brush
the age aside,
fingers and leaves
of grass.

Overheard In An Asylum

by Alfred Kreymborg

"And here we have another case
quite different from the last,
another case quite different --
Listen."

"Baby, drink.
The war is over.
Mother's breasts
are round with milk.

"Baby, rest.
The war is over.
Only pigs
slop over so.

"Baby, sleep.
The war is over.
Daddy's come
with a German coin.

"Baby, dream.
The war is over.
You'll be a soldier
too."

"Yes, we gave her the doll --
Now there we have another case
quite different from --"