Take this patch of meadow
clustered green in clover
and you have a textile
by William Morris. Hidden in its leafage,
the assumption that love is enough —
the love of being wild and open,
of flight from anyone or thing
that confines your freedom. And yet
is such love enough
as you turn on the edge of evening,
your hair and shawl falling
into a feathery shadow,
while the wind fades; and your eyes pin
the intricate stillness with fear?
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William Morris was a 19th century poet and artist belonging to the Pre-Raphaelite movement. His textiles
of plants, flowers and birds became famous for their intricacy of detail and color. He also extended his patterns into wallpaper. This fancy artwork also appeared in books he published and served as a background for woodcut illustrations.
4 replies on “Raven In A Field”
“Hidden in its leafage,
the assumption that love is enough —”
Wendy,
I savor those lines. They please the ears and demand to be said
again and again. The sounds, the sense, the poetry…Yes!
…” your eyes pin
the intricate stillness with fear”
I love this. You have set the tone so deftly with imagery and sounds,
and the wisdom that spills from your pen.
You never disappoint!
Sarah
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“Hidden in its leafage,
the assumption that love is enough”
Wonderful lines!
And I love that line re the eyes pinning the stillness with fear.
Always a pleasure to read your work.
Kerri
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Dear Sarah and Kerri
So glad you enjoyed this poem; and thank you both so much for your lovely comments! They mean a great deal to me and help to keep me confident in my work and inspired. Please take care,
my best to you both,
Wendy
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Just so beautifully written Wendy. I never tire of reading your work. It is always gently wrought and so utterly poetic, (which not all poems are by a long chalk,) And for me, you have quite perfected the art of allusion.
Douglas.
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