Silent reading
I wanted to post this yesterday, but school was hectic with the admissions deadline and then I was out late being Mr. Garter’s arm candy at the fancy American Diabetes Association dinner. But heck, every day should be poetry reading day. I give you Edna St. Vincent Millay, Sonnet XI, which my brother read for us at our wedding:
Not in a silver casket cool with pearls
Or rich with red corundum or with blue
Locked, and the key withheld, as other girls
Have given their loves, I give my love to you;
Not in a lovers’-knot, not in a ring
Worked in such fashion, and the legend plain–
Semper fidelis, where a secret spring
Kennels a drop of mischief for the brain:
Love in the open hand, no thing but that,
Ungemmed, unhidden, wishing not to hurt,
As one should bring you cowslips in a hat
Swung from the hand, or apples in her skirt,
I bring you, calling out as children do:
“Look what I have! — And these are all for you.”
Posted: February 3rd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
What a lovely poem–perfect for the lovely outdoor wedding you and Mr. Garter had. I love it!
Posted: February 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
that was cool! don’t feel bad, i was going to post mine last night, but fell asleep at 930!
Posted: February 4th, 2007 at 5:16 am
What a gorgeous poem! I’m so glad you shared that your readers.
Posted: February 4th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Thank you for sharing this! I’ve only recently discovered Edna St. Vincent Millay, but I love what I have read so far. This is a beautiful poem that is perfect for a wedding!
Posted: February 4th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Oh, how lovely! This is my favorite that I’ve read on the blog-poems!
Posted: February 6th, 2007 at 6:12 am
How beautiful!!!!
PS – I tried to email you but it got bounced back – can you email me?
Posted: February 11th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Edna St. Vincent Millay is my *favorite* poet! Have you read her biography, “Savage Beauty”? If you haven’t, please, do! Her life is so astonishingly tragic and beautiful.