New Poetry - Modernist Magazines Project

QUANDARY
The earth was snow-shod : and the ferns were gnomes in the stubble
Blind in the darkness waiting the emerald eye,
And crucible question of Hamlet, limb for limb struggle.
Hamlet said, * Conscience turns currents awry.'
In the twin moment the sun discovers the haunches
And tubes of the wood commencing osmosis beneath.
Movement begins in the twined capillary branches
And the sap executes quick course in the sheath.
Samson surrendered in pruning, strength is in growth.
This is the wisdom developing swiftly in channels
Involving the fjord and the landway, coupling both,
And the ice-gutted boats with bearded funnels.
The earth was snow-shod : but suddenly now refraction
Shot in the emerald flash : surge bubbled for motion.
And now in the second she seized the green venture of action
And sped indigo toward the ocean.
Here was the flow of release but I remained leashed :
Where the earth was ice-shod and the corpse of the northern
nation.
And turned to the huddled dwellings where the sailors fished
And hum-drum the sea hob-nobbed the vegetation.
6
DERMOT MCKAY
PRIZE FOR GOOD CONDUCT
Will you take a seat ?
The War will soon be over.
The state requires
my wedding ring and my apostle spoons
my sons.
There will be a special service in the cathedral
after which the clergy will be disbanded
and the fane profaned and put to immediate service