Saturday, January 10, 2009

Today's poem - Silver by Walter de la Mare

Silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws and a silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.

by Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)

With my great thanks to K. for telling me about this wonderful poem - so perfect for the full moon at perigee.

11 comments:

  1. A full moon tonight - we have just a little cloud so it may yet be seen to best advantage. I love the silvery landscape - even more silvery here because we still have frost.

    Good to be reminded of that poem too.

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  2. I think I must have been about 6 or 7 years old when I had to learn this poem to recite at a school concert. Thanks for the memory, Nan.

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  3. I remember learning this at school, it all came back to me as I read it. Haven't thought of it for years. Thank you for the reminder.
    Pretty cloudy here, can't see the moon at present, will have a look later.

    Carole.

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  4. It was so big and bright last night I could almost read by it. Wonderful poem and I adore his photo smiling alongside.

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  5. I loved that!! I don't read any poetry so to click on your blog and see this beautiful poem was really nice!!!

    Have a great weekend!! and I will remember this poem the next time I look at the moon :)

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  6. I wish I could see the moon. It is overcast windy and cold here. It isn't supposed to get any better. I guess I won't be doing any moon gazing this week.

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  7. Thank you for posting this enchantingly appropriate poem. I use his use of alliteration and imagery. It's simply wonderful!

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  8. Oh, Nan! I've just posted the very same thing! The moon was wonderful last night.

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  9. Thank you all for your appreciation of the poem. As I noted, I thank K. so much for telling me about it. From the responses, I suspect it was read/taught more in Britain than here. I've heard of the author, but not this poem. And as you probably all knew, but I had to look up, :<) 'shoon' is the plural of shoe.

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  10. Trying to think where I encountered this poem years ago--it may have been in an anthology or a textbook which my Mother had used when she was in school. The word-pictures are so lovely.

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  11. So very good to hear from you, Morning's Minion!

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