Jane Adam
How to Find Your Name
in the Norton Anthology of
Poetry
1Yearn to be plain as life.
Oh, to be in England. The
universe,
rooted in one dear perpetual place,
names (for these were men)
a child,
madness,
eye (love’s firmament),
harp (I would them play on gold),
elves also.
Rise and set;
either be hot or cold.2
Johnson, this power has praise that virtue
scarce can warm—
as of a fox, or of a cok and hen—
night’s starred face.
Enemy, divorce me: untie or break
that knot again.