A poem should be palpable and mute br As a globed fruit br br Dumb br As old medallions to the thumb br br Silent as the sleeve-worn stone br Of casement ledges where the moss has grown - br br A poem should be wordless br As the flight of birds br br A poem should be motionless in time br As the moon climbs br br Leaving, as the moon releases br Twig by twig the night-entangled trees, br br Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves, br Memory by memory the mind - br br A poem should be motionless in time br As the moon climbs br br A poem should be equal to: br Not true br br For all the history of grief br An empty doorway and a maple leaf br br For love br The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea - br br A poem should not mean br But bebr br Archibald MacLeishbr br