SHAME
—Richard Wilbur (1921-2017)
Save to be thought inoffensive.
Has never been fathomed, owing to the national habit
Report that the railway-route from Schuldig passes
Over the city gates may perhaps be rendered,
As zero are, of course, not to be trusted,
Save as reflecting the natives' flustered insistence
That they do not count, as well as their modest horror
Of letting one's sex be known in so many words.
Of churches or comfort-stations, have given observers
An odd impression of ostentatious meanness,
And it must be said of the citizens (muttering by
In their ratty sheepskins, shying at cracks in the sidewalk)
That they lack the peace of mind of the truly humble.
Unsmiling carelessness of the border-guards
And douaniers, who admit, whenever they can,
Not merely the usual carloads of deodorant
But gypsies, g-strings, hasheesh, and contraband pigments.
For the hoped-for invasion, at which time the happy people
(Sniggering, ruddily naked, and shamelessly drunk)
Will stun the foe by their overwhelming submission,
Corrupt the generals, infiltrate the staff,
Usurp the throne, proclaim themselves to be sun-gods,
And bring about the collapse of the whole empire.
__________________
For more about Richard Wilbur, go to www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/richard-wilbur/. To hear him read "Shame", go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1DYcMFhPFI/.
Is there any way to be more ornery to yourself than by heaping yourself with shame? Here are two articles about meanness, our current Seed of the Week:
"Negative Capability: How to Talk Mean and Influence People" by Tony Hoagland: www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/negative-capability-how-talk-mean-and-influence-people/.
And “Meanness in Poetry”, Diane Lockward’s take on Hoagland's article: dianelockward.blogspot.com/2007/08/meanness-in-poetry.html/.
—Medusa