"An arc alike inscrutable"
Jarrell, Sexton, Perillo, Dickinson, Roethke
Randall Jarrell:
Anne Sexton:
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Lucia Perillo:
Emily Dickinson:
The bat is dun with wrinkled wings / Like fallow article, / And not a song pervades his lips, / Or none perceptible. // His small umbrella, quaintly halved, / Describing in the air / An arc alike inscrutable, / Elate philosopher! // Deputed from what firmament / Of what astute abode, / Empowered with what malevolence / Auspiciously withheld. // To his adroit Creator / Ascribe no less the praise; / Beneficent, believe me, / His eccentricities.
Theodore Roethke:
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I love bats! I wrote a poem long ago that included the line “the sorrowful, little-dog face of the famous vampire bat.” See you on Zoom later - my students and I are looking forward to it. 🤓
Egads I had forgotten bats are mammals!