To Earthward by Robert Frost for National Poetry Month

[dragonyphoenix]

To Earthward by Robert Frost

Love at the lips was touch
As sweet as I could bear;
And once that seemed too much;
I lived on air

That crossed me from sweet things,
The flow of--was it musk
From hidden grapevine springs
Downhill at dusk?

I had the swirl and ache
From sprays of honeysuckle
That when they're gathered shake
Dew on the knuckle.

I craved strong sweets, but those
Seemed strong when I was young;
The petal of the rose
It was that stung.

Now no joy but lacks salt,
That is not dashed with pain
And weariness and fault;
I crave the stain

Of tears, the aftermark
Of almost too much love,
The sweet of bitter bark
And burning clove.

When stiff and sore and scarred
I take away my hand
From leaning on it hard
In grass and sand,

The hurt is not enough:
I long for weight and strength
To feel the earth as rough
To all my length.

Comments

[kerkevik.livejournal.com]

"Love at the lips was touch
As sweet as I could bear;
And once that seemed too much;
I lived on air"

"Now no joy but lacks salt,
That is not dashed with pain
And weariness and fault;
I crave the stain"

These two passages express with painfully bittersweet truthfulness the two extremes of my heart at the moment; especially today.

Thank you,
Still under Willow & Tara's spell,
Ray.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I get these in reverse order in my Inbox. Seems like I'm 3 for 3!