You amaze me more and more. I thought I would post my Michaelmas story tomorrow and no one on my flist would have any clue what the heck I was talking about! Thank you for sharing this.
What a charming poem! I love poems about flowers and their meanings. I'd never read any Lawrence poetry and I'm not really a fan of his novels, but I shall certainly look for more now.
Isn't it beautiful? There's something trance-like about the whole last stanza, and the last line thrills me.
I've almost NEVER heard Lawrence mentioned as a poet, but I have a book of his poems, and frankly I think he was a better poet than novelist.
I will suggest a few favorites for you...maybe later this afternoon, or maybe when I get home. Unfortunately I have to work a bit first, though I don't want to. Here's one in the meantime:
Moonrise
And who has seen the moon, who has not seen Her rise from out of the chamber of the deep, Flushed and grand and naked, as from the chamber Of finished bridegroom, seen her rise and throw Confession of delight upon the wave, Littering the waves with her own superscription Of bliss, till all her lambent beauty shakes toward us Spread out and known at last, and we are sure That beauty is a thing beyond the grave, That perfect, bright experience never falls To nothingness, and time will dim the moon Sooner than our full consummation here In this odd life will tarnish or pass away.
Thanks so much! I love the way he manages to use such a coolly beautiful scene to convey such a heart-warming message. As an atheist I worry a lot about extinction and life beyond death, so perhaps I found it especially nice for that reason :) Also, I know a lot of people feel dwarfed and insignificant when they look at the heavens at night, but seeing the moon and stars has the opposite effect on me.
I feel the same (agnostic skeptic here, with no belief in an afterlife). "Beauty is a thing beyond the grave" comforted me a bit; at least it's eternal, if nothing else is.
Comments 7
Reply
Also, today (the 29th) is my _boy_'s birthday.
Reply
A very happy birthday to _boy_ , may it be joyous and much celebrated.
Reply
Reply
I've almost NEVER heard Lawrence mentioned as a poet, but I have a book of his poems, and frankly I think he was a better poet than novelist.
I will suggest a few favorites for you...maybe later this afternoon, or maybe when I get home. Unfortunately I have to work a bit first, though I don't want to. Here's one in the meantime:
Moonrise
And who has seen the moon, who has not seen
Her rise from out of the chamber of the deep,
Flushed and grand and naked, as from the chamber
Of finished bridegroom, seen her rise and throw
Confession of delight upon the wave,
Littering the waves with her own superscription
Of bliss, till all her lambent beauty shakes toward us
Spread out and known at last, and we are sure
That beauty is a thing beyond the grave,
That perfect, bright experience never falls
To nothingness, and time will dim the moon
Sooner than our full consummation here
In this odd life will tarnish or pass away.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment