Written by Karen D. Swim
- Image by majamarko via Flickr
I love movies with lots of action, if something blows up in the first 30 seconds, I’m all in. I am not particularly a fan of romance novels unless there’s also a good mystery or kicky kind of humor attached. Yet, I am a sucker for poetry. I love the way the words seem to melt on the page and the rhythm caresses your heart. So with this month being a celebration of love, I thought I would share one of my favorite love poems.
As We Are So Wonderfully Done With Each Other
by Kenneth Patchen
As we are so wonderfully done with each other
We can walk into our separate sleep
On floors of music where the milkwhite cloak of childhood lies
O my lady, my fairest dear, my sweetest, loveliest one
Your lips have splashed my dull house with the speech of flowers
My hands are hallowed where they touched over your soft curving.
It is good to be weary from that brilliant work
It is being God to feel your breathing under me
A waterglass on the bureau fills with morning…
Don’t let anyone in to wake us.
From the Collected Poems of Kenneth Patchen, copyright © 1942 by Kenneth Patchen.
Do you have a favorite love poem, song or quote? Share it in the comments so we can all enjoy. 🙂
Wednesday Link Love
- Holding Hands, Robert Hruzek
- 25 Statements that Aren’t Questions, Amy Derby
- Famous Love Letters courtesy of Jason Wright, author of The Wednesday Letters (great book by the way)
Hi Karen, I saw the first movie of the series and then found out it’s based on the book. So I am planning to read them soon. Once I finish with Anne Rice. BTW, books are so much better than the movies in this particular case 🙂
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@Alina, I wish I could read Romanian but I am sure I will find the English version beautiful. Have you read the Twilight books? It’s my understanding that it’s a vampire romance thing. Sounds like you would like it. 🙂
@Andrew, I forgot about romantic comedies, some are OK but I would pick action or mystery first. 🙂
Hey Deb, darn I replied to your comment in my head and missed typing it here. Sorry about that! Shucks, how did I miss that Blogger’s Poetry reading? Off to catch up, thanks! 🙂
Karen,
A very nice poem.
I’m with Shari – science fiction or mystery for me.
Romantic comedies are also OK if they are done well.
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Karen, I love poetry as well, but I’m also a sucker for all king of love stories, especially if there’s something supernatural about them, say vampires or witches or stuff like that 🙂
But my favorite poem about love is one where love is just a reason to discuss love, eternity, superior and mundane beings, all the philosophy and symbolism you can think of. It’s written by the greatest Romanian poet (in others opinion but particularly mine), Mihai Eminescu. Evening Star (Luceafarul):
http://www.estcomp.ro/eminescu/grimm3.html
Unfortunately, it’s way, way better in Romanian.
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@Friar, LOL! Before your comment I was laughing and thinking, uh oh we are definitely chasing the menfolk away today! Don’t worry, it’s only today. Tomorrow I’ll make sure I throw in some gorillas or burgers. 🙂
@Joanna, it is beautiful. I particularly love the ending. I think it’s one of my favorite things about poetry – the crescendo of words that then gently fades and rises ever so gently at the end leaving you with beating heart and a breathless feel.
@Shari, I read your poem and it was beautiful. What a wonderful gift for your brother and sister-in-law. Isn’t it funny how the power of poetry transcends our normal tastes? By the way the photo of your parents was so beautiful. I love black and white photos but even more so when it offers a peek into our own history. 🙂
Awww….MUSH!
Okay….that’s it. I’m outta here! 😉
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Not quite a love poem, or, well, sort of … but anyway, I posted this one on my blog on Monday for the Blogger’s (Silent) Poetry Reading.
http://punctualityrules.com/2009/02/02/anticipation/
–Deb´s last blog post..Anticipation
No sooner had I posted that comment than it popped into my head:
“When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess’d,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”
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Karen, I loved the poem too, and like Rebecca I was particularly struck by ‘the speech of flowers’…
My mind has gone ablank about my favourite love poems, but I’ll come back with some before the month is out I promise!
Joanna Young´s last blog post..10 Rounds with the Inner Critic, But Still Standing
@Conor, oh my this is beautiful! I love “he only lives, that deadly is in love” – the passion and imagery are breathtaking right through the end.
“So all my thoughts are pieces but of you
Which put together makes a glass so true
As I therein no other’s face but yours can view.”
These three lines alone had me closing my eyes to savor their melody. Wow, thank you so much for this, it’s a keeper!
So well I love thee, as without thee I
Love Nothing; if I might choose, I’d rather die
Than be one day debarr’d thy company.
Since beasts, and plants do grow, and live and move,
Beasts are those men, that such a life approve
He only lives, that deadly is in love.
The corn that in the ground is sown first dies
And of one seed do many ears arise:
Love, this world’s corn, by dying multiplies.
The seeds of love first by thy eyes were thrown
Into the ground untill’d, a heart unknown
To bear such fruit, till by thy hands ’twas sown.
Look as your looking-glass by chance may fall,
Divide and break in many pieces small
And yet shows forth the selfsame face in all:
Proportions, features, graces just the same,
And in the smallest piece as well the name
Of fairest one deserves, as in the richest frame.
So all my thoughts are pieces but of you
Which put together makes a glass so true
As I therein no other’s face but yours can view.
– Michael Drayton
I had to go and grab an old book of poetry to find this poem, but it always stuck in my mind for it’s depth and imagery. Hope you like it 🙂
Karen:
I love action and adventure in movies too. I’d probably see a science fiction or mystery before a love story. But as you say, there’s something about written words of love. This poem speaks love into the air magnificently. Like Rebecca, “Your lips have splashed my dull house with the speech of flowers,” is my favorite.
Occasionally, I write poetry that I really like. And, while some of my poems reflect love in some way, this poem, Mine, is the only love poem I’ve written.
http://slstellingstories.com/2008/04/mine/
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@Rebecca, at my old house in California I planted bleeding hearts and loved going out and gazing at them. I am so glad that you like the poem. We can share warm thoughts as we brave the cold and snow. 🙂
Karen, this poem is just beautiful!
My favorite line is “Your lips have splashed my dull house with the speech of flowers”
And I just love the photo of the bleeding heart you chose to go with it. Makes me think of spring in spite of all the cold and snow I’m surrounded by.
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@Robert, lol! One day I hope to meet you and the Mrs in person, I know we would have so much fun!
“I love movies with lots of action, if something blows up in the first 30 seconds, I’m all in.”
Ah, kindred spirits, indeed! Mrs. MZM knows I’m a big sucker for romantic movies – as long as there’s space ships, explosions, or world domination plots involved!