6. THEODORE ROETHKE
Theodore Roethke was born in
Michigan,U.S. In 1957 he published a
a collection of works that included 43
new poems titled ‘Words for the wind’,
for which he was awarded many titles.
The poem, ‘The Bat’ is taken from ‘The
Collected Poem’ published in 1964.
7. By day the bat is cousin to the
mouse
He likes the attic
of an ageing house
8. His fingers make a hat about his
head
His pulse beat is so slow we think
him dead.
He loops in crazy figures half the
night
Among the trees that face the corner
light
9. But when he brushes up
against a screen
We are afraid of what
our eyes have seen
10. For something is amiss or
out of place
When mice with wings can wear a
humanface
11. MEANING OF THE DIFFICULT WORDS
Attic - Space or room inside the
roof of a building.
Loop - A shape produced by a curve
that bends round.
Amiss - Not quite as it should be or
wrong
