Sunday, May 2, 2010

Sunday Morning Poetry

Conversation

Ordinary people are peculiar too:
Watch the vagrant in their eyes
Who sneaks away while they are talking with you
Into some black wood behind the skull,
Following un-, or other, realities,
Fishing for shadows in a pool.

But sometimes the vagrant comes the other way
Out of their eyes and into yours
Having mistaken you perhaps for yesterday
Or for tomorrow night, a wood in which
He may pick up among the pine-needles and burrs
The lost purse, the dropped stitch.

Vagrancy however is forbidden; ordinary men
Soon come back to normal, look you straight
In the eyes as if to say 'It will not happen again',
Put up a barrage of common sense to baulk
Intimacy but by mistake interpolate
Swear-words like roses in their talk.

~ Louis MacNeice

The portrait above is of Louis MacNeice and was painted by Nancy Sharp. MacNeice was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1907. He died in 1963. You can listen to him and many, many other poets reading their own work when you buy this.

21 comments:

Life Is A Road Trip said...

I always enjoy coming here for my Sunday morning "meditation"!

Rosaria Williams said...

This is a new poet/new poem for me. Interesting concept.

maggie said...

Relyn-I am interested in what your take on this poem is. For me it says that most times there isn't a vulnerable intimacy but there are moments that open up and you see into another and allow them to see into you until the defensive wall comes up once more to provide perceived safety.

Patti said...

Interesting poem Relyn...and kind of timely in my life. Hope all is well in your world!

SE'LAH... said...

always enjoy your sunday morning poetry.

hope you are enjoying the weekend.
thinking of you. one love.

Tess Kincaid said...

I adore your taste in poetry.

Bee said...

Such a good example of what poetry does. It can describe something so hard to put into words and yet keep it rather mysterious and unpindownable, too.

Jeanne said...

Love all you share
Love you

Marilyn Miller said...

Thank you for the insightful poem about vagrants. Yes, I can see those words in my mind's eye.

elsa said...

i really like it. wonderful use of the words vagrant and vagrancy.

Joy said...

I just love how much can be shared in so few words with poetry! Thanks for sharing this gem.

Georgianna said...

Isn't this amazing? Thank you so much for sharing it. (Did you get my reply to your Etsy convo?) Have a wonderful new week! xo - g

Mrs. E said...

I've never read this poem before, but this is one of those poems that amazes me because I know exactly what the poet is talking about! Love it!!

Anonymous said...

the lost purse / the dropped stitch...

this is really resonating with me this morning. thank you.

xo Alison

suzanna said...

Lovely as always!

* said...

Deep poem. Loved it. One to read and re-read.

Anonymous said...

Lovely. I enjoyed reading it.

Kirsten Steen said...

I think I have to reread this one! Leave it to our favorite teacher to make us think a little harder!
Thanks Relyn for sharing your findings!
Kirsten

dulcy said...

That little bird is an indigo bunting. Very exciting to get one at the feeder! They only stay around a short while in the early spring. Much more intense blue than bluebirds or jays, which both are also quite gorgeous. You can see them sometimes at the Nature Center, and I saw one yesterday at Nathaniel Green Park. Really miss you too! When school's out we'll make a date!

Tracy said...

He may pick up among the pine-needles and burrs
The lost purse, the dropped stitch...

I LOVE the imagery here! I'd not read this one before. Much to ponder! Every week I look forward to your poetry shared on Sundays, Relyn. :o) Happy Day! ((HUGS))

Jeanie said...

Where DO you find these wonderful poems!

THanks, too, for your comments -- I think you will LOVE the Anne Frank book!

Oldies, but Goodies