The sea, the sea, who will be able to drain it dry?
—George Seferis, from “Mythistorema”
In this small house
On the bluff that is being
Inexorably eaten away,
—George Seferis, from “Mythistorema”
In this small house
On the bluff that is being
Inexorably eaten away,
In front of the large bay window
Letting in the light,
Pray your eyes take in
As much as they can
Before running out
And down to the strand,
Your hands cupped
Round your ears so you can hear clearly
The world’s beckoning, inexhaustible
Song.
Round your ears so you can hear clearly
The world’s beckoning, inexhaustible
Song.
The wonderful series of single-sentence minimal marvels that have preceded this have set us up so perfectly for its stretched-out oceanic single-sentence majesty, worthy of the master to whom it pays epigraphic homage -- and proceeding beyond retrospective evocation into a magnificent abundance of presence.
ReplyDeleteLet in the eternal light of song, then, we say gratefully, and shine across the waves to us, O generous singer, while there's still time!
(And then, as not even a great poet is finally inexhaustible, enjoy a well-earned nap.)
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to sleep on this--maybe when I wake up, I'll have something eye-opening to say!
(In the meantime, thanks for the close reading and generous comments.)
Vassilis, I have been haunted by this poem all the livelong day, and much of the night, with the dying of the light.
ReplyDeleteIt is that bay window vista toward the sea beyond which stays with me, eyes open or closed.
Distance lends enchantment to the view.
Thankfully.