Al Que Quiere!. William Carlos Williams

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      ​GULLS

       Table of Contents

      My townspeople, beyond in the great

      world,

       are many with whom it were far more

       profitable for me to live than here with

      you.

       These whirr about me calling, calling!

       and for my own part I answer them,

      loud as I can,

       but they, being free, pass!

       I remain! Therefore, listen!

       For you will not soon have another

      singer.

       First I say this: you have seen

       the strange birds, have you not, that

      sometimes

       rest upon our river in winter?

      ​

      Let them cause you to think well then

      of the storms

       that drive many to shelter. These things

       do not happen without reason.

       And the next thing I say is this:

       I saw an eagle once circling against the

      clouds

       over one of our principal churches—

       Easter, it was—a beautiful day!—:

       three gulls came from above the river

       and crossed slowly seaward!

       Oh, I know you have your own hymns, I

      have heard them—

       and because I knew they invoked some

      great protector

       I could not be angry with you, no matter

       how much they outraged true music—

       You see, it is not necessary for us to leap

      at each other,

       and, as I told you, in the end

       the gulls moved seaward very quietly.