Delmore Schwartz

A black-and-white photograph of a young man wearing a dark suit. He is crossing his arms and looking down and away. 

The beautiful American word, Sure, 

The beautiful American word, Sure, 
As I have come into a room, and touch 

The lamp's button, and the light blooms with such 
Certainty where the darkness loomed before, 

As I care for what I do not know, and care 
Knowing for little she might not have been, 
And for how little she would be unseen, 
The intercourse of lives miraculous and dear. 

Where the light is, and each thing clear, 
separate from all others, standing in its place, 
I drink the time and touch whatever's near, 

And hope for day when the whole world has that face: 
For what assures her present every year? 
In dark accidents the mind's sufficient grace.

John Ashbery

  The New Spirit (excerpt) I thought that if I could put it all down, that would be one way. And next the thought came to me that to leave a...