“The figs on the fig tree in the yard are green; Green, also, the grapes on the green vine Shading the brickred porch tiles. The money’s run out. How nature, sensing this, compounds her bitters. Ungifted, ungrieved, our leavetaking. The sun shines on unripe corn. Cats play in the stalks. Retrospect shall not soften such penury – Sun’s brass, the moon’s steely patinas, The leaden slag of the world – But always expose The scraggy rock spit shielding the town’s blue bay Against.”