A Poem for a Thursday #5
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| Photo by Jordan Bauer on Unsplash |
Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet and playwright. She was appointed Britain’s Poet Laureate in May of 2009. In describing her own writing she says she “likes to use simple words, but in a complicated way.” Here is a poem about Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife, to whom he willed his second best bed.
“Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed…’
(from Shakespeare’s will)
The bed we loved in was a spinning world
of forests, castles,, torchlight, cliff-tops, seas
where he could dive for pearls. My lover’s words
were shooting stars which fell to earth as kisses
on these lips; my body now a softer rhyme
to his, now echo, assonance; his touch
a verb dancing in the centre of a noun.
Some nights I dreamed he’d written me, the bed
a page beneath his writer’s hands. Romance
and drama played by touch, by scent, by taste.
In the other bed, the best, our guests dozed on,
dribbling their prose. My living laughing love –
I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head
as he held me upon that next best bed.
Anne Hathaway
Carol Ann Duffy
4 Comments
Katrina
I haven't read much of her poetry but my husband is quite a fan.
jllee656
I am enjoying reading poetry more than I expected though I don't have much patience. If it doesn't catch my attention in a line or two I move on. I am not sure that is how I am supposed to be reading it!
Brona
My living laughing love – how beautiful.
You've inspired me to find a poem to reflect where I am right now – http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2018/11/sheep-country-in-spring-by-thomas-w.html
You could have a new meme on your hands?
jllee656
But…what do I do if I have a new meme on my hands?!
I enjoyed your poem. I hope you will post more about poetry. It is good for me to broaden my horizons.