Thursday, May 12, 2022

Storm-darken’d or starry bright

My days, my years, my life has seen up and downs, lights and darknesses. If I wrote only and continually of the 'light' and never mentioned the other, then as an artist, I would be a liar.
~Charles Bukowski


Poems to sing to us and help us "through the world...safely go" today.


Where My Books Go
by William Butler Yeats

All the words that I utter,
And all the words that I write,
Must spread out their wings untiring,
And never rest in their flight,
Till they come where your sad, sad heart is,
And sing to you in the night,
Beyond where the waters are moving,
Storm-darken’d or starry bright.


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Joy and Woe
by William Blake

Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine,
Under every grief and pine,
Runs a joy with silken twine.
It is right it should be so,
We were made for joy and woe,
And when this we rightly know,
Through the world we safely go.


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Imagine the Possibilities has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Rose!

11 comments:

Sally Murphy said...

What an excellent pairing - 'joy and woe' and 'Storm-darken’d or starry bright'. Thank you for sharing.

Bridget Magee said...

The yin and the yang of the human experience through poetry. Perfect choices for today, Tabatha. :)

Rose Cappelli said...

"We are made for joy and woe" - so true. thanks for sharing these poems, Tabatha!

Linda said...

The Bukowski quote rings true as are the poems. Thank you for sharing them today.

Michelle Kogan said...

Thanks for these poems of sanctuary to take a breath in Tabatha, big sigh they are welcoming and appreciated!

Robyn Hood Black said...

You had me at "Yeats and Blake" - what welcome, timeless words for us to ponder in these challenging days. Thanks, Tabatha!

jama said...

Love both poems (the Yeats is new to me and SO beautiful).

Carol Varsalona said...

Tabatha, the poems you chose are significant for they speak of the life- challenges and joys.

Mary Lee said...

It's hard to summon joy when everything looks bleak, and it's hard to remember the bleak when everything is joyful...and yet they are inextricably woven. Thanks for the poetic reminder!

Margaret Simon said...

Two poems I'd like to carry with me wherever I go.

Heidi Mordhorst said...

There's my lesson again, coming along to remind me that although I have been a slow learner, I might more safely go, now.