Alcaics; Observations from a Picnic; Gray Rain

melodies in gladness for the light

This week we have three poems, because the weather is beautiful and somehow I can’t help but keep breaking into verse. The first poem was inspired by translating Horace’s Odes and trying to put classical verse forms into English. The second is a sonnet, and the third is an experiment in repetition and refrain.

—

Claude Monet, Luncheon on the Grass (1865-6)

Alcaics

A jazzy bud of song is erupting from
the neighbor’s window, blossoming in the air
     and mingling with the bird flock’s folk tunes.
          Sparrow, piano, and spring entangle

in lapses of the afternoon’s hazy hours.
A conversation starts, then it dwindles, stalls,
     picks up again, and traffic threads a
          daze. In this symphony all must offer

some kind of note or tune. It is evident
by how the roaring engines and tinkling keys
     consort into a common chorus,
          music is in everything and glimmers. 

—

Observations from a Picnic

A small ant stirs the structure of a leaf
within a world where leaves are trees and blades
of verdant grass supply full shade’s relief,
where grassless patches are cool forest glades.
The wren, the sparrow, and the oriole
sing melodies in gladness for the light
that dreams a golden spell upon the whole
of mid-May’s blooming, chuckling in delight.
One robin struts out of the brush to show,
in pride, his prize of worms that, living, shift,
clutched in his beak, tasting and savoring now
the life that feeds his life, the cruel gift.
And how, up there, does that hawk stay afloat?
He seems to swim and knows the blue by rote. 

—

Gray Rain

Gray rain, small rain, sweet rain of May,
fall on the full hydrangea blooms
that bloom today.

Light rain, clear rain, fresh rain of May,
wash clean the sidewalks for the feet
that pass today.

Kind rain, mild rain, shy rain of May,
bless all the bare, uncovered heads
you see today.

Cool rain, soft rain, pure rain of May,
kiss gently now the brow of him
I miss today.

---

Let me know which poem was your favorite in the comments! If you enjoyed, please like this post, share with a friend, and subscribe to Soul-Making for more. How has your spring been going so far, dear readers?