Sleeping On The Wing Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGH IJKDLMNOAF PQRQEOSTQUVWQT| Perhaps it is to avoid some great sadness | A |
| as in a Restoration tragedy the hero cries 'Sleep | B |
| O for a long sound sleep and so forget it ' | C |
| that one flies soaring above the shoreless city | D |
| veering upward from the pavement as a pigeon | E |
| does when a car honks or a door slams the door | F |
| of dreams life perpetuated in parti colored loves | G |
| and beautiful lies all in different languages | H |
| - | |
| Fear drops away too like the cement and you | I |
| are over the Atlantic Where is Spain where is | J |
| who The Civil War was fought to free the slaves | K |
| was it A sudden down draught reminds you of gravity | D |
| and your position in respect to human love But | L |
| here is where the gods are speculating bemused | M |
| Once you are helpless you are free can you believe | N |
| that Never to waken to the sad struggle of a face | O |
| to travel always over some impersonal vastness | A |
| to be out of forever neither in nor for | F |
| - | |
| The eyes roll asleep as if turned by the wind | P |
| and the lids flutter open slightly like a wing | Q |
| The world is an iceberg so much is invisible | R |
| and was and is and yet the form it may be sleeping | Q |
| too Those features etched in the ice of someone | E |
| loved who died you are a sculptor dreaming of space | O |
| and speed your hand alone could have done this | S |
| Curiosity the passionate hand of desire Dead | T |
| or sleeping Is there speed enough And swooping | Q |
| you relinquish all that you have made your own | U |
| the kingdom of your self sailing for you must awake | V |
| and breathe your warmth in this beloved image | W |
| whether it's dead or merely disappearing | Q |
| as space is disappearing and your singularity | T |
Frank O'hara
(1)
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About Sleeping On The Wing
Sleeping On The Wing is a poem by Frank O'hara. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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