For Jan Betley
© By James Simmons
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The sad river passes
through melancholy glades
where leaves are silenced. It is late.
Under damp grasses
under the mist and trees, grenades
are stored in boxes, and will wait.
© James Simmons, For Jan Betley, 1973, complete text, Poems 1956-1986, 1986, The Gallery Press.
James Simmons makes a simple reference to the latent violence in beautiful surroundings.