HOME / poem: A weekly poem, read by the author.

Epic Simile

By Elizabeth ArnoldPosted Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003, at 12:00 PM ET

Listen to Elizabeth Arnold reading this poem.


Just as planets move
in relation to each other

through the dark,

the air between them
too thin to survive

yet tensed against their pulling,

or continents of night
revolving,

joinable, if ever,

by frail tunnels disappearing into
multiplying folds of space;

so we move, rooms

or inches from each other
as if hope of light were over.

Print This ArticlePRINTEmail to a FriendE-MAILShare This ArticleRECOMMEND...Get Slate RSS FeedsRSS
This fall Elizabeth Arnold will begin as an assistant professor of English at the University of Maryland.
Click here to visit Robert Pinsky's Favorite Poem Project site.


To submit poetry to Slate, send up to five poems and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Robert Pinsky, Slate Magazine, Boston University, 236 Bay State Road, Boston, MA, 02215.
What did you think of this article?
Join The Fray: Our Reader Discussion Forum
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
JFK.TODAY'S PICTURES: JFK.
Cartoonists' take on the auto industry.TODAY'S CARTOONS: Cartoonists' take on the auto industry.
Wea culpa.TODAY'S DOONESBURY: Wea culpa.
Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Obama's New Church
Sally Quinn | Where will he worship? My vote is for National Cathedral, a place that transcends political and religious divisions.