Friday, November 20, 2009

Under The Oak

If you know, at least a decent amount, you'd know I'm not too fond of poetry. (Yes, sorry to all my friends who write poems) I would never go out of my way to read one. But I was reading this book (My Sister's Keeper, finalement! Thank you, Rashmi) and there was this poem I couldn't help but google- Under The Oak- D.H Lawrence. It's beautiful! I think he's talking about how he should be admiring the beauty of nature, he's consumed by darkness and doesn't know how to enjoy, looks at things too sharply.

You, if you were sensible,
When I tell you the stars flash signals, each one dreadful,
You would not turn and answer me
"The night is wonderful."

Even you, if you knew
How this darkness soaks me through and through, and infuses
Unholy fear in my vapor, you would pause to distinguish
What hurts, from what amuses.

For I tell you
Beneath this powerful tree, my whole soul's fluid
Oozes away from me as a sacrifice steam
At the knife of a Druid.

Again I tell you, I bleed, I am bound with wit hies,
My life runs out.
I tell you my blood runs out on the floor of this oak,
Gout upon gout.

Above me springs the blood-born mistletoe
In the shady smoke.
But who are you, twittering to and fro
Beneath the oak?

What thing better are you, what worse?
What have you to do with the mysteries
Of this ancient place, of my ancient curse?
What place have you in my histories?