Most Read... Rebecca WattsThe Cult of the Noble Amateur
(PN Review 239)
John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
Vahni CapildeoOn Judging Prizes, & Reading More than Six Really Good Books
(PN Review 237)
Next Issue Kirsty Gunn re-arranges the world John McAuliffe reads Seamus Heaney's letters and translations Chris Price's 'Songs of Allegiance' David Herman on Aharon Appelfeld Victoria Moul on Christopher Childers compendious Greek and Latin Lyric Book Philip Terry again answers the question, 'What is Poetry'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from Poetry Nation 4 Number 4, 1975.

Two Poems Peggy Rizza


THE NAMING OF THE ANIMALS
'. . . and whatever the man called every living creature,
that was its name.' Genesis 2:19.

When still in your
white robe of sleep you
saw them,
a zootrain, a barnyard.
In common they had only innocence,
and regarded you with
trust or reproach,
though you had
then even no words for them.
Without words, it took you
a while, to call both the high
and the low.
In coveys and beveys,
in herds, flocks and teams,
they came creeping and skimming,
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image