argue argue argue with me endlessly neither proving you less wanted nor less dear

Days that cannot bring you near 

or will not, 

Distance trying to appear 

something more than obstinate, 

argue argue argue with me 

endlessly 

neither proving you less wanted nor less dear. 

 

Distance: Remember all that land 

beneath the plane; 

that coastline 

of dim beaches deep in sand 

stretching indistinguishably 

all the way, 

all the way to where my reasons end? 

 

Days: And think 

of all those cluttered instruments, 

one to a fact, 

canceling each other's experience; 

how they were like some hideous calendar 

"Compliments of Never & Forever, Inc." 

 

The intimidating sound 

of these voices 

we must separately find 

can and shall be vanquished: 

Days and Distance disarrayed again 

and gone 

both for good and from the gentle battleground. 

 

[Elizabeth Bishop {1911-1979} 'Argument', from The Complete Poems 1927-1979]

 

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