Blessed Is The Man
Marianne Moore
from Like a Bulwark 1956
who does not sit in the seat of the scoffer--
...the man who does not denigrate, depreciate, denuncicate;
......who is not "characteristically intemperate,"
who does not "excuse, retreat, equivocate; and will be heard."
(Ah, Giorgione! there are those who mongrelize
...and those who heighten anything they touch; although it
........................................................may well be
......that Giorgione's self-portrait were not said to be he,
it might not take my fancy. Blessed the geniuses who know
that egomania is not duty.)
..."Diversity, controversy; tolerance" -- in that "citadel
......of learning" we have a fort that ought to armour us well.
Blessed is the man who "takes the risk of a desision" -- asks
himself the question: "Would it solve the problem?
...Is it right as I see it? Is it in the best interests of all?"
......Alas. Ulysses' companions are now political --
living self-indulgently until the moral sense is drowned,
having lost all power of comparison,
...thinking license emancipates one, "slaves whom they
.................................................themselves have bound."
..........Brazen authors, downright soiled and downright spoiled, as
..........................................................if sound
and exceptional, are the old quasi-modish counterfeit,
mitin-proofing conscience against character.
...Affronted by "private lies and public shame," blessed is the
...........................................................author
.....who favors what the supercilious do not favor --
who will not comply. Blessed, the unaccommadating man.
Blessed the man whose faith is different
...from possessiveness -- of a kind not framed by "things which
.....................................................do appear"--
....who will not visualize defeat, too intent to cower;
whose illumined eye has seen the shaft that gilds the sultan's
......................................................tower. |
