Jul 25, 2009

5th Virtual Poetry Circle

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And now, for the fifth edition of the Virtual Poetry Circle:

OK, Here's a poem up for reactions, interaction, and--dare I say it--analysis:

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock's books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don't like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

We're going to check out one of my favorite poets from the Romantic period. Here's a poem from William Blake's Blake's Poetry and Designs, "Night" (Page 33):


Night

The sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.
The moon, like a flower,
In heaven's high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.

Farewell, green fields and happy groves,
Where flocks have took delight.
Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves
The feet of angels bright;
Unseen they pour blessing,
And joy without ceasing,
On each bud and blossom,
And each sleeping bosom.

They look in every thoughtless nest,
Where birds are covered warm;
They visit caves of every beast,
To keep them all from harm.
If they see any weeping
That should have been sleeping,
They pour sleep on their head,
And sit down by their bed.

When wolves and tigers howl for prey,
They pitying stand and weep;
Seeking to drive their thirst away,
And keep them from the sheep.
But if they rush dreadful,
The angels, most heedful,
Receive each mild spirit,
New worlds to inherit.

And there the lion's ruddy eyes
Shall flow with tears of gold,
And pitying the tender cries,
And walking round the fold,
Saying, "Wrath, by His meekness,
And, by His health, sickness
Is driven away
From our immortal day.

"And now beside thee, bleating lamb,
I can lie down and sleep;
Or think on Him who bore thy name,
Graze after thee and weep.
For, washed in life's river,
My bright mane for ever
Shall shine like the gold
As I guard o'er the fold."

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let's have a great discussion...pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence. Most of all have fun!

3 comments:

Anna said...

I like the rhymes in this poem. Rhymes are so hard to pull off. Still, I thought it was mostly boring. Is that bad? LOL

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Jeanne said...

I like the line "they pitying stand and weep." I like the idea that the angels can empathize with the appetite of the carnivore.

Probably the reason I like this line is that I've been talking to my youngest child lately about empathy. He's going into high school this fall at the age of 13, and we're playing catch up trying to emphasize the importance of getting along with others, rather than continuing to be content as the "weird, smart kid."

More empathy in the world would solve a lot of problems.

Serena said...

Anna: No, you are entitled to think it is boring. This is not one of my favorite poems, though my favorite lines are "They look in every thoughtless nest,/
Where birds are covered warm" and "And there the lion's ruddy eyes/
Shall flow with tears of gold"

Jeanne: I agree empathy is sorely needed in this day and age. Not that I am a great with the emotion myself. I do like the lines you pointed out, though I wonder what readers during Blake's time thought of angels empathizing with a carnivore!