Today's poem
The title of the poem might intimate omens based on the coming of spring and swallows that the poet confronted. Splendid ambiguity in "The well rising without sound" as the first line in the first stanza and "thunderous examples" (spiritual and essential, I suppose) at the third line in the third stanza, making for a mysterious universe. With perfect and slant rhyming in the first stanza, a firm truth seems to be present. Then, readers can find rhythmic patterns in birds' airy dancing in the second stanza. However, the real world has been full of chaos where his feet were placed: inexplicable.
The Well Rising by William Stafford
The well rising without sound,
the spring on a hillside,
the plowshare brimming through deep ground
everywhere in the field一
The sharp swallows in their swerve
flaring and hesitating
hunting for the final curve
coming closer and closer一
The swallow heart from wingbeat to wingbeat
counseling decision, decision:
thunderous examples. I place my feet
with care in such a world.
The title of the poem might intimate omens based on the coming of spring and swallows that the poet confronted. Splendid ambiguity in "The well rising without sound" as the first line in the first stanza and "thunderous examples" (spiritual and essential, I suppose) at the third line in the third stanza, making for a mysterious universe. With perfect and slant rhyming in the first stanza, a firm truth seems to be present. Then, readers can find rhythmic patterns in birds' airy dancing in the second stanza. However, the real world has been full of chaos where his feet were placed: inexplicable.
The Well Rising by William Stafford
(from the website of Poetry Foundation)
the spring on a hillside,
the plowshare brimming through deep ground
everywhere in the field一
The sharp swallows in their swerve
flaring and hesitating
hunting for the final curve
coming closer and closer一
The swallow heart from wingbeat to wingbeat
counseling decision, decision:
thunderous examples. I place my feet
with care in such a world.