Jules Supervielle was conscripted during the First World War and served until 1917, at which time he returned to poetry.
~Wikipedia
A poem by Jules Supervielle today. He married his wife in 1906 and they had six children. How many had been born when he served in WWI? What a relief that he lived to return to poetry (and his family). Today's pandemic leaves people learning to hear from afar as well.
Listen, Will You Learn to Hear Me from Afar?
by Jules Supervielle
Listen, will you learn to hear me from afar?
It’s a question of inclining the heart more than the ear.
You’ll find bridges in yourself and roads
that lead right to me.
I’m awake all night, looking out for you.
What does it matter, the Atlantic's width,
The fields, woods, mountains between us two?
One by one they’ll have to abdicate –
When you decide to turn your eyes this way.
*********
A Year of Reading has the Poetry Friday round-up (and host sign-ups for the first half of 2021). Thanks, birthday girl Mary Lee!
"You'll find bridges in yourself" - I love that! Thank you Tab. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for the introduction to Supervielle and this poem, Tabatha. From afar I love listening (and learning) from you. :)
ReplyDelete"It's a question of inclining the heart more than the ear" - what a beautiful line. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow. What a romantic soul. Thank goodness he survived. I agree. To incline the heart more than the ear. Yes. Let's do that in 2021.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem, and so poignant in light of the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteI shared a poem from "afar" today, too, Tabatha, though not quite the journey you make with this poet. I love the plaintive voice in the poem.
ReplyDeleteI love the phrase" inclining the heart more than the ear to hear." What a sense of longing. I've been reading some about WWl lately and it must have been a time of intense loss and feeling of separation.
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous sensitive poem–"inclining our heart" seems like the core of love, thanks Tabatha.
ReplyDeleteA huge heart solider with a yearning I hope was answered back home.
ReplyDeleteAppreciations for thinking how to bridge divides ~ with a poet new to me.
And Yay! at Reading to the Core/ Mary Lee Hahn, about calendar cubes for Poetry Firday futures! I'm 1/29/20 & love that first month's promise.
Tabatha, I am filled with the beauty of this intense love poem. "You’ll find bridges in yourself and roads
ReplyDeletethat lead right to me."
I feel like this is a poem about Poetry Friday! We incline our hearts toward each other, build bridges through the interwebs. Sending lots of love to you and yours across the bridge between us!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so apropos. And lovely to see you last night, Tabatha!
ReplyDeleteI love a good romantic poem! Bridges in yourself is a phrase to steal.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect poem for this time we're living in. Inclining the heart is such a lovely and inspiring image. And finding the bridges and roads within ourselves when we are far apart. Thank you so much for sharing this poem by a poet who I hadn't read before here.
ReplyDeleteAhh. When you turn your eyes (heart) that way. I love this, and it's perfect for this particular time. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love "you'll find bridges in yourself" - such a gorgeous line!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDelete