James Wright
Just off the Highway to Rochester, Minnesota
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
*************
Yes this is a beautiful poem and I've read it many a times and even you suggested this
ReplyDeletebeautiful poem. reading it for the first time.
ReplyDeleteme too reading it for the first time! the last line, i didnt completely understand..
ReplyDelete@sujata: Oh, Sujata! The last lines are the key lines!
ReplyDelete'Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body
I would break into blossom.'
The lines depict the ecstasy, the sheer joy of oneness with the animal and everything else. The poet attains such a blissful state of mind that he feels that he would blossom into flowers of happiness..This is a weak explanation. You have to feel the lines, visualize the scene and feel that undefinable love...
got it now..better to sound stupid then remain stupid right!!
ReplyDeletesujata, its more about being honest rather than pretentious! To be honest is such a relief, isn't it? Such lightness of being...
ReplyDeleteBeen following your novelette. I think you are directly blogging the story as you write, aren't you? Don't do that. Chew over it, edit, prune, sharpen, polish polish till it shines..
Thanks a lot for sharing...
ReplyDeleteHow many times have we ever been lucky or ever thought of breaking from the insipid cocoon we try to be in?
ReplyDeleteI can easily see why you would choose this work...It is a pleasing read, indeed......
ReplyDelete