The Mind

Columbine Reflects

by Maxwell Bodenheim 1892–1954

From Advice (1920)

The Mind

They have moulded my face with a tear and a sneer.
They have sandalled me with caprice,
And the heart they have given me
Is a bag of red tissue-paper.
Their loves are ragged and fat
And seek the consolation
Of a tinkling effigy!
But even an effigy may wink
An eye at its slinking masters!
I can laugh at their frantic, tattered arms
Spinning me into impish posturings,
And jeer at the faces behind me!
After my play I go to sleep,
But they must sit, heavily looking at each other.

MLA

Bodenheim, Maxwell. “Columbine Reflects.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bodenheim/22/.

Chicago

Bodenheim, Maxwell. “Columbine Reflects.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bodenheim/22/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Maxwell Bodenheim