Poetry Out Loud

Coda

POEM VIEWS: 27551
Print this Page


Though his major poems were not written until late in life, and despite the sporadic composition of his poetry, Basil Bunting wrote some of the

. . . MORE »

By Basil Bunting

A strong song tows
us, long earsick.
Blind, we follow
rain slant, spray flick
to fields we do not know.

Night, float us.
Offshore wind, shout,   
ask the sea
what’s lost, what’s left,   
what horn sunk,
what crown adrift.

Where we are who knows   
of kings who sup   
while day fails? Who,   
swinging his axe   
to fell kings, guesses   
where we go?




Basil Bunting, “Coda” from Complete Poems, edited by Richard Caddel. Reprinted with the permission of Bloodaxe Books Ltd., www.bloodaxebooks.com.


HOME

BLOG

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

PARTICIPATION

POEMS
Browse Poems
Browse Poets
Pre-20th Century
25-Lines and Fewer
Keyword Search
Ineligible Poems

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Teacher’s Guide
Lesson Plans and
  Writing Activities

FAQ
Students with
  Disabilities

Competition
  Resources

Judge’s Guide
Audio
Video
What People Are
  Saying


NEWS & EVENTS
National Finals
Events Calendar
Press Releases
Media Contacts
News Clips
Photo Gallery
Download Graphics

FOR STATE PARTNERS
Program Resources
SAA Forum

STATE CONTACTS

E-MAIL US