Poem of the moment

[Saffron]

DWill, I believe you've post a G.M. Hopkins poem awhile back. Which one was it, hum? This one is a beauty. I'd love to hear it read aloud!

[Saffron]

DWill

So I offer another sonnet by G.M. Hopkins. The Windhover

I think this one might just as well as gone on the Verbal Fireworks thread. Don't you think?

Saffron
p.s. I've found it, you posted God's Grandeur on Aug. 8, 2008 on the Poetry? thread. That's for anyone who wants a bit more of G.M. Hopkins.

[DWill]

Oh, yeah, it has fireworks. It helped me once to have a college teacher elucidate some of the language in this.

[Saffron]

Oh, yeah, it has fireworks. It helped me once to have a college teacher elucidate some of the language in this.

Why not help us out with it?

[DWill]

Okay, Saffron. Thanks for the invitation. Be warned that I can't do this briefly. (I apologize for the totally inappropriate smiley faces in the post. I can't get rid of them!)

The Windhover

(To Christ our Lord )

I CAUGHT this morning morning's minion, king-
dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing, 5
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird,

[Saffron]

Thank you, DW. Wonderfully done! I think you should help us out more often. Now, I've only to hear you recite it!

Here's one little addendum to DWill's post on The Windhover

www.farm-direct.co.uk/farming/procedures/ploughing/gmh.html

[DWill]

Thanks for the addendum, Saffron. I'm glad my teacher wasn't making the whole thing up.

DWill

[Saffron]

MESSENGER
Mary Oliver

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird

[Saffron]

It is the last line of this poem that I love.

A Blessing
by James Wright

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.

[DWill]

Saffron,
That is a wonderful poem. I don't know if James Wright is still active or even living, but the man could write. Welcome back from the Poetry Fest(if you are indeed back). I was very bummed for you that you must have had rain the whole time. I hope it was worthwhile despite that.
DWill