by Denise Levertov My wedding-ring lies in a basketas if at the bottom of a well.Nothing will come to fish it back upand back on my finger again.It liesamong keys to abandoned houses,nails waiting to be needed and hammeredinto some wall,telephone numbers with no namesattached,idle paperclips.It can’t be given awayfor fear of bringing ill-luck.It can’tContinue reading “Wedding-ring”
Category Archives: poetry
Airly Beacon
by Charles Kingsley Airly Beacon, Airly Beacon;Oh, the pleasant sight to seeShires and towns from Airly BeaconWhile my love climbed up to me!Airly Beacon, Airly Beacon;Oh, the happy hours we layDeep in fern on Airly Beacon,Courting through the summer’s day!Airly Beacon, Airly Beacon;Oh, the weary haunt for me,All alone on Airly Beacon;With his baby onContinue reading “Airly Beacon”
The sun has burst the sky
by Jenny Joseph The sun has burst the skyBecause I love youAnd the river its banks.The sea laps the great rocksBecause I love youAnd takes no heed of the moon dragging it awayAnd saying coldly ‘Constancy is not for you.’The blackbird fills the airBecause I love youWith springs on lawns and shadows falling on lawns.TheContinue reading “The sun has burst the sky”
The Bagel
by David Ignatow I stopped to pick up the bagelrolling away in the wind,annoyed with myselffor having dropped itas if it were a portent.Faster and faster it rolled,with me running after itbent low, gritting my teeth,and I found myself doubled overand rolling down the streethead over heels, one complete somersaultafter another like a bageland strangelyContinue reading “The Bagel”
Spring
by Gerard Manley Hopkins Nothing is so beautiful as spring -When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrushThrough the echoing timber does rinse and wringThe ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;The glossy peartree leaves and blooms, they brushThe descending blue, that blue isContinue reading “Spring”
Old Botany Bay
by Dame Mary Gilmore I am he, who paved the way,that you might walkat your ease today;I was the conscriptsent to hellto make in the desertthe living well;I bore the heat,I blazed the track -furrowed and bloodyupon my back.I split the rock;I felled the tree:The nation was -Because of me!Old Botany BayTaking the sunfrom dayContinue reading “Old Botany Bay”
Up the River Side
by Frank Foy A sabbath hush pervades the summer day,As seated here beside the shining sands,I gaze on once again the arid lands,That weed-besprinkled westward stretch away;The waves that wash the beach about me laySmooth mirrors in their track, and vast expandsThe stream’s majestic breast, to where upstandsFair Venice in her groves beside her bay.AndContinue reading “Up the River Side”
The Blind Boy
by Colley Cibber O say what is that thing called light,Which I can ne’er enjoy?What is the blessing of the sight?O tell your poor blind boy!You talk of wond’rous things you see.You say the sun shines bright!I feel him warm, but how can heThen make it day or night?My day or night myself I makeWhene’erContinue reading “The Blind Boy”
Epitaph on the Tomb of a Child
by Aphra Behn This Little, Silent, Gloomy, Monument,Contains all that was sweet and innocent;The softest pratler that e’er found a Tongue,His Voice was Musick and his Words a Song;Which now each Listn’ng Angel smiling hears,Such pretty Harmonies compose the Spheres;Wanton as unfledg’d Cupids, ere their CharmsHas learn’d the little arts of doing harms;Fair as youngContinue reading “Epitaph on the Tomb of a Child”
It’s a brand new year – can we look after it properly this time round
It’s a funny old world, not necessarily the funny that makes you laugh, although I can still manage a wry smile for the tragedy that is humour. I started this year with a poem, by Dannie Abse, the poet brother of politician Leo Abse. I rather pre-empted the New Year by posting this short poem,Continue reading “It’s a brand new year – can we look after it properly this time round”
Robin's Nest 