Not the moon. A flower
on the other side of the water.
The water sweeps past in flood,
dragging a whole tree by the hair,
a barn, a bridge. The flower
sings on the far bank.
Not a flower, a bird calling
hidden among the darkest trees, music
over the water, making a silence
out of the brown folds of the river’s cloak.
The moon. No, a young man walking
under the trees. There are lanterns
among the leaves.
Tender, wise, merry,
his face is awake with its own light,
I see it across the water as if close up.
A jester. The music rings from his bells,
gravely, a tune of sorrow,
I dance to it on my riverbank.
(Denise Levertov)
More Poetry from Denise Levertov:
Denise Levertov Poems based on Topics: Light, Water, Youth, Birds, Silence, Nature, Hair, Flowers, Music, Sadness, Faces- A Map Of The Western Part Of The County Of Essex In England (Denise Levertov Poems)
- Clouds (Denise Levertov Poems)
- Goodbye To Tolerance (Denise Levertov Poems)
- A Time Past (Denise Levertov Poems)
- Caedmon (Denise Levertov Poems)
- February Evening In New York (Denise Levertov Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Light Poems, Sadness Poems, Nature Poems, Faces Poems, Youth Poems, Flowers Poems, Birds Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Water Poems, Hair Poems, Silence PoemsBased on Keywords: gravely, lanterns, jester, riverbank