Max Michelson. The Red Light. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22.

The Red Light

By Max Michelson


From “May in the City” THE RED light is out.
Sleep, gnaw your way
In the dead-tired body
And in the limbs which cry out.

Enter, dawn!	5
Hop about, little bird of light!
Hop gently, with upturned claws,
Over the thrown-down body,
Over the extinguished hair.

Tree which grows near the house,	10
Spin and twine your shadows in there.
Burn with your shadows,
Wind around her your tendrils,
Limpid god!