WINTER, a sharp bitter daythe robin turns plump against the cold
the sun is weak
silver faded from gold
he is late in his coming and short in his stay
Man, beast, bird and air all purging, all cleansing, earth already
purified awaits the rite of spring
Her bridal gown a virgin snow and frosts in her hair
A snowdrop by the road today bowed gracefully and high upon
the wing up in the sparkling nothingness, a lone bird
began to sing
Can gentle spring be far away?
Tommy Makem, Winter
Tommy Makem, the legendary "Bard of Armagh" is best known as a singer, storyteller, song collector and actor, but he is also a very fine poet.
My own weekly effort for Poetry Thursday is here.
1 comment:
This is lovely. The photo is wonderful - the colours of the shadows so subtle, the rhythm quite striking. I've always loved my recordings of Tommy Makem, but never knew him as a poet. I've found one other poem of his on line. Do you know of any books of poetry that include his poems?
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