by Kat | Jun 5, 2018 | General, In This Moment
City living has its perks, but it also has its drawbacks. One of those drawbacks is ambient light at night, which makes seeing stars a challenge!
When I read this poem by Derek Walcott, I was carried back to my childhood and memories of seeing that last star boldly shining as the sun begins to tint the sky, or that first star to show itself as the sunlight faded. I hope it stirs equally pleasant memories for you.
Star
If, in the light of things, you fade
real, yet wanly withdrawn
to our determined and appropriate
distance, like the moon left on
all night among the leaves, may
you invisibly delight this house,
O star, doubly compassionate, who came
too soon for twilight, too late
for dawn, may your faint flame
strive with the worst in us
through chaos
with the passion of plain day
by Kat | May 1, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Because Poetry Month should be longer than a month, I am going to keep it going here at Casa del KatKnits and share with you all another poem from Derek Walcott.
The Rainy Season
For Stephanos and Heather
It is coming with the first drops mottling the hot cement,
the patters budding in the pool, with a horizon
as wide and refreshing as the rain-veiled Georgics,
with the upward swoop of the dove, with the heron
quickening its gawky stride; watch a sail
hide her face in the mist and the barred sun shrivel
into gathering cumuli, those huge clouds
trawling gauze skirts of rain as camera-flashes
of lightning record the rattling thunder
and the lances of drizzle start marching
But nothing can equal
the surge of another’s presence, the separately beloved
whose reign is the rain’s, whose weather is the fragrant darkness
of the parlor, in the kitchen, the lightning’s cutlery.
But O
when the bursting storm rattles the sky’s ceiling
and her body draws closer as a vessel warping
into you, her port, her aisle, and she gently rocks,
her ribs brushing yours, O, on your wedding day
may the worried banners of cirrus fade as the storm moves away.
P.S. Apparently, Apple thinks poetry is pretty great too: “Poetry Is Magic: Poems make your day better. Here’s proof.” Yes, I downloaded a poetry app or two!
