Poetry Magazine
Victory
Lepisosteus osseus
Despite it all, something stirs at the sight
Of the cool, enameled body,
The unreflecting eye,
And the long jaw like a chisel
With its single, violent purpose.
It hangs dead still at the water's surface
And seems lifeless, until
A flickering gesture
Carves fish after fish
From any school that swims too close
And creates in the world a new absence,
As if this might be the shaper
As well as the defacer
Of the damaged masterpiece
Whose headless body hails the bodies
Of the many Egyptians excised at Cyprus.
Source: Poetry (December 2007).
Biography
David Orr writes the column “On Poetry” for the New York Times Book Review. His first book, Beautiful & Pointless: A Guide to Modern Poetry, will be published by HarperCollins in April.
Poem Categorization
SUBJECT Arts & Sciences, Painting & Sculpture, Social Commentaries, History & Politics, War & Conflict
If you disagree with this poem's categorization, make a suggestion.
The Poetry Magazine Podcast: Feeling Like a Worm in Tequila?
Your results will be limited to content that appeared in Poetry magazine.
