The Wind
All night the fierce wind blew --
All night I knew
Time, like a dark wind, blowing
All days, all lives, all memories
Down empty endless skies --
A blind wind, strowing
Bright leaves of life's torn tree
through blank eternity:
Dreadfully swift, Time blew.
All night I knew
the outrush of its going.
At dawn a thin rain wept.
Worn out, I slept
And woke to a fair morning.
My days were amply long, and I content
In their accomplishment --
Lost the wind's warning.
Ivor Gurney, Selected Poems (edited by George Walter) (1996).
6 comments:
This is, almost certainly, the last poem that Gurney ever wrote. Philip Lancaster and I have discussed the question of its authorship, because there was, apparently, a poet called Valentina Fane. But Gurney signed many poems with other poets' names.
Phew - lines 3 to 5 are especially striking.
Tim: Thank you very much for visiting and commenting again. And thank you indeed for the additional information about Gurney and the poem!
As I have noted before, I look forward in great anticipation to the authoritative edition of Gurney's poetry being prepared by you and Mr. Lancaster. You are performing a great service for us all.
Thank you, zmkc. 'Phew!' (and/or 'wow!') was my feeling as well when I first encountered the poem. Gurney will often do that to you.
Great combination of poem & image once again Mr P. Love the intensity of this piece, never crossed paths with Gurney before but hope to again...
Murgatroyd: Thank you for visiting and commenting again, and for your kind words. I am pleased that you like the poem -- Gurney deserves to be better known. Thank you again.
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