poems-Vol1#6

Notes:

Poetry is best when taken in doses of 2—read twice, preferably aloud, and then discussed with a friend.

Here are quotes by Flannery O’Connor (packed with a mouthful of “meaning”) that point to the heart of what we’re after when engaging a poem or a work of art.

Meaning is what keeps the short story from being short…not abstract meaning but experienced meaning, and the purpose of making statements about the meaning of a story is only to help you to experience that meaning more fully.

The type of mind that can understand good fiction is not necessarily the educated mind, but it is at all times the kind of mind that is willing to have its sense of mystery deepened by contact with reality, and its sense of reality deepened by contact with mystery.

~ Flannery O’Connor

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This month we feature poetry by Henry David Thoreau. The philosopher, poet, naturalist, writer needs no introduction and nor does his poetry, although it is too often overshadowed by his prose. Enjoy a few selections of this meditative and seminal American artist.

We also feature a couple works by another American original, Mason Jennings. Joining a long flow of American poets, he too speaks of rivers. He also sings of the darkness between fireflies and, especially for a love song, offers some original takes on past flames…

Enjoy!

To a Marsh Hawk in Spring

There is health in thy gray wing,

Health of nature’s furnishing.

Say, thou modern-winged antique,

Was thy mistress ever sick?

In each heaving of thy wing

Thou dost health and leisure bring,

Thou dost waive disease and pain

And resume new life again.

My life has been the poem I would have writ

My life has been the poem I would have writ,

But I could not both live and utter it

Friendship

I think awhile of Love, and while I think,

Love is to me a world,

Sole meat and sweetest drink,

And close connecting link

Tween heaven and earth.

I only know it is, not how or why,

My greatest happiness;

However hard I try,

Not if I were to die,

Can I explain.

I fain would ask my friend how it can be,

But when the time arrives,

Then Love is more lovely

Than anything to me,

And so I'm dumb.

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak,

But only thinks and does;

Though surely out 'twill leak

Without the help of Greek,

Or any tongue.

A man may love the truth and practise it,

Beauty he may admire,

And goodness not omit,

As much as may befit

To reverence.

But only when these three together meet,

As they always incline,

And make one soul the seat,

And favorite retreat,

Of loveliness;

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates

And a kindred nature,

Proclaim us to be mates,

Exposed to equal fates

Eternally;

And each may other help, and service do,

Drawing Love's bands more tight,

Service he ne'er shall rue

While one and one make two,

And two are one;

In such case only doth man fully prove

Fully as man can do,

What power there is in Love

His inmost soul to move

Resistlessly.

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Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side,

Withstand the winter's storm,

And spite of wind and tide,

Grow up the meadow's pride,

For both are strong

Above they barely touch, but undermined

Down to their deepest source,

Admiring you shall find

Their roots are intertwined

Insep'rably.

Darkness Between The Fireflies

I woke up before you in the total darkness

Early morning

I could hear the wind in the trees

I was looking for the light to bring you out

From the shadows

Redefine you now for only me

And honey I'm sure

That you've been in love before

Plenty of men have held high places in your eyes

And jealousy has got no use for me

The past is beautiful

Like the darkness between the fireflies

I was driving faster through the Appalachians

I could see the world go out below me in the sun

You should know by now

That someone's always been there

Long before you

You're never going to be the only one

And honey I'm sure

That you've been in love before

Plenty of men have held high places in your eyes

But jealousy has got no use for me

The past is beautiful

Like the darkness between the fireflies

Beautiful like the darkness between the fireflies

How Deep is That River

How deep is that river? How deep is that river?

I don't wanna know where it's coming from

I don't need to know where it's going to

Before I place my trust in You

I just wanna know, how deep?

God said to me what He said to the tree

Grow up towards the light and one day you'll see

My son Jesus, what did He say?

Love the Lord, your God and God will show you the way

Do unto others like you wanna be done

Look deep in your heart and know that we are one

Singing, how deep is that river? How deep is that river?

I don't wanna know how fast it flows

I don't need to know if it's safe to swim

Before I put my trust in Him

I just wanna know, how deep?

God came down in the cool of the day

Stirred up the waters and began to play

Before He knew it, man was on the land

With a thought in his head, and a gun in his hand

God saw that man was just a little too rough

So He gave him a heart and filled it up with love

Singing, how deep is that river? How deep is that river? Yes

I don't wanna know if it has a name

I don't need to know how to cross it yet

Before I get my spirit wet

I just wanna know, how deep, alright

A few years back I lost my way

I was deep in the woods, I began to pray

I came to a river and I sat on its bank

It was cool and clear, I have Jesus to thank

I drank that water, yes, I drank it up

Now every day I come back and fill my cup

Singing, how deep is that river? How deep is that river? Yes

I don't wanna know if it's yours or mine

I don't need to know if it's east or west

Before I put my fears to rest

I just wanna know how deep

How deep is that river? How deep is that river? Yes

I don't wanna know where it's coming from

I don't need to know where it's going to

Before I place my trust in you

I just wanna know how deep