Friday 10 August 2012

Day 49: Honey Light



Now to introduce one of the great modernist poets: William Carlos Williams, known for his pioneering imagism.

Here's his pretty true account of love, 'a honey stain' upon the world, everything 'yellow, yellow, yellow', on a sunny, honey, yellow day.  Enjoy. 


A Love Song - William Carlos Williams

What have I to say to you
When we shall meet?
Yet—
I lie here thinking of you.

The stain of love
Is upon the world.
Yellow, yellow, yellow,
It eats into the leaves,
Smears with saffron
The horned branches that lean
Heavily
Against a smooth purple sky.

There is no light—
Only a honey-thick stain
That drips from leaf to leaf
And limb to limb
Spoiling the colours
Of the whole world.

I am alone.
The weight of love
Has buoyed me up
Till my head
Knocks against the sky.

See me!
My hair is dripping with nectar—
Starlings carry it
On their black wings.
See, at last
My arms and my hands
Are lying idle.

How can I tell
If I shall ever love you again
As I do now?
 

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful.

    Makes me want to go outside and write in the honey-yellow sunshine :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Cheryl! It is quite beautiful. You should go outside and write in the honey-yellow sunshine - a great idea! :)

    ReplyDelete

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