Category: Poetry
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Lines Written on Visiting a Scene in Argyleshire
Lines Written on Visiting a Scene in Argyleshire At the silence of twilight’s contemplative hour, I have mused in a sorrowful mood, On the wind-shaken weeds that embosom the bower, Where the home of my forefathers stood. All ruined and wild is their roofless abode, And lonely the dark raven’s sheltering tree: And travelled by…
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The Welcome to Sack
Sack is a sort of strong, dry wine from Spain, popular in England during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Welcome to Sack So soft streams meet, so springs with gladder smilesMeet after long divorcement by the isles;When love, the child of likeness, urgeth onTheir crystal natures to a union:So meet stolen kisses, when the…
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Cousin Kate
Cousin Kate I was a cottage maiden Hardened by sun and air Contented with my cottage mates, Not mindful I was fair. Why did a great lord find me out, And praise my flaxen hair? Why did a great lord find me out, To fill my heart with care? He lured me to his palace…
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The Power of the Dog
Another by Kipling. The Power of the Dog There is sorrow enough in the natural way From men and women to fill our day; And when we are certain of sorrow in store, Why do we always arrange for more? Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to…
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Awake, My Soul
Awake, my soul Awake, my soul, and with the sun Thy daily stage of duty run; Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise To pay thy morning sacrifice. Thy precious time mispent, redeem, Each present day thy last esteem ; Improve thy talent with due care, For the great day thyself prepare. In conversation be…
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Moonlight Memorandum
Moonlight Memorandum Machines are no longerslowly combing the red earth. There is no one left to explainthe cones in my eyes to me. I have been given my sentence& it is not a long one though it does include the word quintessential which pleases me. Accordingly, I am no relationto the sky but to the…
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The Waking
A quiet poem about noise. The Waking I strolled across An open field; The sun was out; Heat was happy. This way! This way! The wren’s throat shimmered, Either to other, The blossoms sang. The stones sang, The little ones did, And flowers jumped Like small goats. A ragged fringe Of daisies waved; I wasn’t…
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Sussex
Restarting my regular poetry posts. I’ve been reading more single-author collections lately, so they’ll likely be less variety, and I also might try to add some commentary on individual poems from time to time. To begin again, a poem about home, which, as Kipling notes, ought to be loved even in its unlovableness. Sussex God…
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Final Selections from Carter’s Traditional Japanese Poetry
Kyogoku Tamekane. On “Spring Rain,” composed when he held a poem contest at his home On an eveningset aglow with the crimsonof plum blossoms,the willow boughs sway softly;and the spring rain falls. Retired Emperor Fushimi. On “wind in the pines” To avoid getting wetI took cover a momentin the shade of pines–where the rain made…
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More Selections from Carter’s Traditional Japanese Poetry
Fujiwara no Teika, “Winter Morning” After a full yearof gazing out, one morningI open my door–to at thin snowfall, frozen–the far edge of loneliness. The Go-Kyogoku Regent and Former Chancellor Fujiwara no Yoshitsune A cricket cries outnear my straw mattress, in the coldof a frosty night–as I spread my robeto spend the night alone. Minamoto…
Dan Yingst 