Friday, March 31, 2017

Swan Song



The Swan, by Mary Oliver

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -


An armful of white blossoms,

A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?


8 comments:

  1. The dog with the heart collar looking adoringly at his mistress totally makes this piece for me.

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  2. Now this I like. A lot. The painting and the poem!

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  3. I change my life after seeing this


    You are exellent detective

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  4. Lovely poetry, and image!

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  5. Great painting and poem, it's absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the Leonard Cohen poem, I also like him a lot too. I have been enjoying your poems when you post them. They add a very nice touch.
    Have a wonderful weekend Kate.

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  6. ah so lovely - sorry to be too busy to drop by more regularly.

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  7. Another Amy Rice piece? I love the poem. Mary Oliver is a master.

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