This is my favourite poem.
I have vowed never to teach it, just to read it when it snows.
The Sunlight on the Garden.
The sunlight on the garden
Hardens and grows cold,
We cannot cage the minute
Within its nets of gold,
When all is told
We cannot beg for pardon.
Our freedom as free lances
Advances towards its end;
The earth compels, upon it
Sonnets and birds descend;
And soon, my friend,
We shall have no time for dances.
The sky was good for flying
Defying the church bells
And every evil iron
Siren and what it tells:
The earth compels,
We are dying, Egypt, dying.
And not expecting pardon,
Hardened in heart anew,
But glad to have sat under
Thunder and rain with you,
And grateful too
For sunlight on the garden.
From Collected Poems of Louis MacNeice, published by Faber and Faber
How very very beautiful. How sweet that you read it, when it snows. It is like my “I Heard a Bird Sing” that I read in December.
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I shall look it up and read it too!
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the poet is Oliver Herford-you will like his simple rhyme
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nice! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed it!
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I really like that, and it’s not one I know. I can see why it’s your favourite. xx
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Every poem he ever wrote deserves revisiting!
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Beautiful poem. 🙂 I have never come across it before. xxx
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I am pleased to introduce this poet to you. A man of great urbanity and generosity!
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Really lovely! 🙂
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I am glad you enjoyed it. Winter is for reading poetry again.
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I love the idea of your annual ritual with this lovely poem.
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Often read poems become part of our souls I think.
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