Today’s quote is from ‘The Harp of Aengus’ by W.B. Yeats.
‘Where time is drowned in odour-laden winds
And Druid moons, and murmuring of boughs,’
She holds tight the thread of dreams
Rain falls dull on sodden fields,
The sky so low it scrapes the boughs
Of trees in winter nakedness.
This time, this place is all we have,
Its aches and pains and unsaid fears,
An ocean grey with greedy hands.
But woven through with fleeting lights,
This damp and misty stillness fills
With all the perfumes of the past,
A host in flowing, broidered robes,
Their feet on running water tread.
The trick, to hold the silken thread,
Where all our days are strung, bright bead on bead,
Lest twisted winter fingers yank it free,
And strew our tumbling, filmy-coloured dreams,
Among the sad remains of last year’s leaves.
Wonderful, the last 5 lines in particular sing to me. (K)
Thank you. I’m getting so much out of this little exercise. Such a powerful influence.
It is. So much in each line.
One of the best ideas I’ve had in a long time 🙂
Your prompts always inspire me.
The link goes back to the great man.
https://fmmewritespoems.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/a-month-with-yeats-11/
Here you go! Holding tight to that thread today! Lovely,lyrical poem, Jane.
Thanks! You followed the thread too.
wow! amazing, Jane 🙂
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/a-month-with-yeats-day-eleven/
I’m pleased you like it, Lady Lee 🙂
‘To hold the silken thread,’ tremendous!!!
You are making each day an adventure for us all, thank you so much for this Jane!!🤗🤗
David Attenborough mixed in with WB for me today:
https://deuxiemepeau.blog/2017/11/11/survival-of-the-witless-day-11-of-a-month-with-yeats/
It’s intense, but so rewarding!
Oh so rewarding! I am grateful to you 😘🤗
I’m glad others are having as much fun as I am!
Inspiring, as always, Jane! I think of the Norns weaving fate!
Here’s mine:
https://frankjtassone.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/a-tanka-for-a-month-with-yeats-day-11-poetry-haiku/
Okay, so they are the Norns. Who are the others though?
😆 is this a quiz? What’s the door prize? Could one one others be the Fates, or is that too close! 😆
I’m just curious. Sometimes when you look closely at a painting you see some really wacky details.
Ah! Full disclosure: I didn’t realize that you were referring to the painting in your previous comment on this thread. I thought you were asking me to guess at allusions in your poem! 🙂
Oops, sorry. I hope I’d never be pretentious enough to do that! I do wonder what the idea is though behind some paintings.
No problem; it was my mistaken presumption, after all! Too busy enjoying my birthday luncheon (at home) I suppose. Bread, cheese and Burgundy will do that! LOL.
As for the ideas in the minds of painters, it’s a mystery. I may “See” a scene unfold when I write, but I lack the discriminating eye or dexterous hand necessary to paint it! Ill stick to poetry, thank you. 🙂
Happy birthday! I can see you might be a little unfocused 🙂
Indeed! 😉
🙂
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
🙂
Another fabulously Yeats prompt, your poem so perfect for this time of year. 💜💜
I didn’t plan it that way when I ordered the prompts, but that feeling of loss and lost innocence is very Yeats.
Indeed it is 🍁🍁
Druid Moon?
I will stick to a twelve month calendar
“Odour-laden winds” is provocative enough for me.
Following on the footsteps of your poems are becoming difficult. Maybe a good home cooked lunch will fertilize my brain cells☺
You have a business lunch AND a homecooked lunch?
Today is Saturday. And I do cook well.
I thought you probably did 🙂
Now I know why my foot hurts😆
🙂
Holdout
https://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/holdout/
Here is the short link to my post today: https://wp.me/p73yZZ-3Pa
My effort is here
https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/29721/
This is so beautiful Jane.
Thank you, Kat 🙂
I put off reading yours (and everyone’s) because I didn’t want to be influenced. This is lovely–full of beautiful lines, but especially the silken thread and the last few lines. Autumnal, too.
I’m echoing everyone else–wonderful poem and wonderful challenge!
I was out most of the day, so just posting mine before bed now. 🙂
https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/under-the-druid-moon-yeats-challenge-day-eleven/
The influence is supposed to be the quote, so you’re right to limit the interference 🙂 I’m glad you’re enjoying all this.
I am!
🙂
I struggled a wee bit with this one. Then a cup of tea roused the muse.
https://katmyrman.com/2017/11/11/tea-for-one/