The other day I recieved a two-for-one movie voucher to see Jane Campion’s new movie Bright Star in January (and here is a link to a gorgeous website on the production of the film). I’m quite keen to see it as I’m a massive fan of Campion’s work, but would you believe I’ve never read any poetry by John Keats? Shameful, I know. I’d like to read some before I see the movie in early 2010. Any suggestions from Keats lovers on what poems to start with?
Anyway, I also thought I’d use this chance to put up a poem I have read. It’s called Woman to Man by Judth Wright and it’s one of my favourites.
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The eyeless labourer in the night
the selfless, shapeless seed I hold, builds for its resurrection day- silent and swift and deep from sight foresees the unimagined light. This is no child with a child’s face; This is the strength that your arm knows, This is the maker and the made; Judith Wright, 1949
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December 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I can’t wait to see it.
Keats poetry – well obviously Bright Star is a great poem. I also like Ode to a Grecian Urn for what it says about beauty and eternity.
December 10th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I’ve said it before, but I LOVE Judith Wright, and this is my second favourite one after ‘Woman to Child’. I am not really a poetry kinda guy, but when I stumbled across a book of her stuff I became a bit obsessed.
You should read ‘Woman to Child’– being pregnant and all, it would be pretty moving. I found it the day after little e was born, when I was alone at home and the girls still in hospital. It was very moving.
December 10th, 2009 at 8:22 am
It’s beautiful Ben, thanks for that…thought I’d copy it out too.
You who were darkness warmed my flesh
where out of darkness rose the seed.
Then all a world I made in me;
all the world you hear and see
hung upon my dreaming blood.
There moved the multitudinous stars,
and coloured birds and fishes moved.
There swam the sliding continents.
All time lay rolled in me, and sense,
and love that knew not its beloved.
O node and focus of the world;
I hold you deep within that well
you shall escape and not escape-
that mirrors still your sleeping shape;
that nurtures still your crescent cell.
I wither and you break from me;
yet though you dance in living light
I am the earth, I am the root,
I am the stem that fed the fruit,
the link that joins you to the night.