back to Wallace Stevens

“The Dove In The Belly” by Wallace Stevens 🇺🇸 (2 Oct 1879 – 2 Aug 1955)
The whole of appearance is a toy. For this,
The dove in the belly builds his nest and coos,
​
Selah, tempestuous bird. How is it that
The rivers shine and hold their mirrors up,
​
Like excellence collecting excellence?
How is it that the wooden trees stand up
​
And live and heap their panniers of green
And hold them round the sultry day? Why should
​
These mountains being high be, also, bright,
Fetched up with snow that never falls to earth?
​
And this great esplanade of corn, miles wide,
Is something wished for made effectual
​
And something more. And the people in costumes,
Though poor, though raggeder than ruin, have that
​
Within them right for terraces—oh, brave salut!
Deep dove, placate you in your hiddenness.