Piano Impression

As I was finishing off my latest patchi installment for my website, I discovered the poetry of Archibald Lampman (1861 - 1899). I believe the experience of music is one of the most challenging subjects to put into words and Lampman has done that so beautifully in this sonnet, that I couldn't resist sharing it!

The Piano

Low brooding cadences that dream and cry

Life's stress and passion echoing straight and clear;

Wild flights of notes that clamour and beat high

Into the storm and battle, or drop sheer;

Strange majesties of sound beyond all words

Ringing on clouds and thunderous heights sublime;

Sad detonance of golden tones and chords

That tremble with the secret of all time;

O wrap me round; for one exulting hour

Possess my soul, and I indeed shall know

The wealth of living, the desire, the power,

The tragic sweep, the Appollonian glow;

All life shall stream before me; I shall see,

With eyes unblanched, Time and Eternity.

Archibald Lampman

Busy - but never too busy for poetry!

Being caught up in many different creative projects is stimulating and satisfying...but leaves little room for keeping up to date with such things as a digital blog or diary.

So...as a compromise, I've decided to share some more poetry that I love, and will leave more extensive musings for when I have more time!

Song

You say you love; but with a voice

Chaster than a nun's, who singeth

The soft vespers to herself

While the chime-bell ringeth -

O love me truly!

You say you love; but with a smile

Cold as sunrise in September,

As you were Saint Cupid's nun,

And kept his weeks of Ember -

O love me truly!

You say you love; but then your lips

Coral tinted teach no blisses,

More than coral in the sea -

They never pout for kisses -

O love me truly!

You say you love; but then your hand

No soft squeeze for squeeze returneth;

It is, like a statue's, dead, -

While mine to passion burneth -

O love me truly!

John Keats

Just as a footnote, I think Dymocks and perhaps other major bookshops need to take a look at their poetry section and invest in a broader range to chose from. The token smattering of poetry books that you are most likely to find in such stores do not do justice to the vivid and intriguing works that are being created by the poets of today, (such as the Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen)