Waiting for the Fire. (the ghosts of war).Waiting for the Fire Not just the temples, lifting lotuses out of the tangled trees, not the moon on cool canals, the profound smell of the paddies, evening fires in open doorways, fish and rice the perfect end of wisdom; but the small bones, the grace, the voices like clay bells in the wind, all wasted. If we ever thought of the wreckage of our unnatural acts, we would never sleep again without dreaming a rain of fire: somewhere God is bargaining for Sodom, a few good men could save the city; but in that dirty corner of the mind we call the soul the only wash that purifies is tears, and after all our body counts, our rape, our mutilations, nobody here is crying; people who would weep at the death of a dog stroll these unburned streets dry-eyed. But forgetfulness will never walk with innocence; we save our faces at the risk of our lives, needing the wisdom of losses, the gift of despair, or we could kill again. Somewhere God is haggling over Sodom: for the sake of ten good people I will spare the land. Where are those volunteers to hold back the fire? Look: when the moon rises over the sea, no matter where you stand the path of the light comes to you. Philip Appleman Philip D. Appleman (born February 8th 1926) is an American poet. He is the distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Department of English, Indiana University, Bloomington. received the Humanist hu·man·ist n. 1. A believer in the principles of humanism. 2. One who is concerned with the interests and welfare of humans. 3. a. A classical scholar. b. A student of the liberal arts. Arts Award from the American Humanist Association The American Humanist Association (AHA) is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. It is the original Humanist organization, and embraces secular, religious, and other manifestations of Humanist philosophy. in 1994. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1944 to 1945 and in the U.S. Merchant Marine Corps in 1946 and from 1948 to 1949. He is the author of three novels, including In the Twelfth Year of the War; a half-dozen nonfiction non·fic·tion n. 1. Prose works other than fiction: I've read her novels but not her nonfiction. 2. The category of literature consisting of works of this kind. books, including the new third edition of the Norton Critical Edition, Darwin Darwin, city (1991 pop. 67,946), capital of the Northern Territory, N Australia, on Port Darwin, an inlet of the Timor Sea. Remotely situated on the sparsely settled north coast, Darwin had no rail connection with any of the major Australian cities until 2003, when ; and seven books of poetry, including New and Selected Poems Among the numerous literary works titled Selected Poems are the following:
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