John Berryman
Heritage
The pitiless American
Looked down into the hollow past,
Despising what he saw. He ran
Nevertheless from the shade cast
Across his country by the past
As if it were a thing alive
And monstrous. The deliberate shade
Moved on with darkened and slow drive
Into the sunlight, where a glade
Had been his home and now was shade.
The frightened new man saw it come
And cried for neighbours, cried for night
To swallow up the thing or groom
His stricken legs for a new flight.
But when at last they came to night
He was accustomed to the shade,
And sorrow as for an old friend
Shook him, seeing daylight fade,
The darkness, and the dear shade end.
He sat there silent with no friend.
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