Poetry

Poetry. Something literary in this world I've never understood. Sure I've read some kids poems and one of the famous poems from Wind in the Willows (Ducks' Ditty) was actually a song in our family but poetry hasn't ever been part of my life...until now.

If you've read my recent posts you'll know I'm on a bit of a literary conquest. At some point I'd like to read Proust, Tolstoy and maybe finally manage to get in to Jane Austen (someone I just can't seem to read). However at the moment I'm reading something simpler and so I have a little time to look at some poetry. Now because I'm so ignorant when it comes to poetry I called on the help of my Mum. She is big on poetry and has been reading it to me every so often and then we talk about it afterwards.

What has this got to do with the price of eggs in London you ask? Well tonight I'm proud to say I just read my first ever adult poem all on my own. And I reckon I actually understood it. For the most part anyway. The poem was called Qua Cursum Ventus and was by A.H. Clough. It's about some ships and wasn't too hard.

Perhaps this poetry this isn't that complicated after all.

Qua Cursum Ventus - by  A.H. Clough

AS ships, becalm’d at eve, that lay

With canvas drooping, side by side,
Two towers of sail at dawn of day
Are scarce long leagues apart descried;
When fell the night, upsprung the breeze,	5
And all the darkling hours they plied,
Nor dreamt but each the self-same seas
By each was cleaving, side by side:
E’en so—but why the tale reveal
Of those whom, year by year unchanged,	10
Brief absence join’d anew to feel,
Astounded, soul from soul estranged?
At dead of night their sails were fill’d,
And onward each rejoicing steer’d:
Ah, neither blame, for neither will’d,	15
Or wist, what first with dawn appear’d!
To veer, how vain! On, onward strain,
Brave barks! In light, in darkness too,
Through winds and tides one compass guides,—
To that, and your own selves, be true.	20
But O blithe breeze, and O great seas,
Though ne’er, that earliest parting past,
On your wide plain they join again,
Together lead them home at last!
One port, methought, alike they sought,	25
One purpose hold where’er they fare,—
O bounding breeze, O rushing seas,
At last, at last, unite them there!