Sunday, November 02, 2014

The Saturday poem: The First Song

by Thomas Lux - The Guardian,

Thomas Lux
Thomas Lux

The First Song

was sung after the first stone was thrown at a beast,
after a spear in a man’s hand
brought down a pile of meat.
Of course we sang of that!
We hardly had a language and we sang.
We sang the stories, which turned into better stories,
which is why stories are told
and told again. Then, when we had more time
and bellies full enough with food,
we sang of love. But it began
with stones and sharpened sticks,
then sharpened sticks hardened
in fire.


• From Thomas Lux: Selected Poems (Bloodaxe, £12). 

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