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To My Wife - With A Copy Of My Poems -- Oscar Wilde

Vikram Doctor writes "For no particularly clear
reasons, today's poem [Poem #1225] made me think of three others, each quite
different, but well worth carrying on the list."

I agree - the poems are very different, and yet all connected in some way to
Flecker's poem; they form a nice theme. So, back to Vikram, with the first
of his poems:
(Poem #1226) To My Wife - With A Copy Of My Poems
 I can write no stately proem
 As a prelude to my lay;
 From a poet to a poem
 I would dare to say.

 For if of these fallen petals
 One to you seem fair,
 Love will waft it till it settles
 On your hair.

 And when wind and winter harden
 All the loveless land,
 It will whisper of the garden,
 You will understand.
-- Oscar Wilde
  proem: An introduction; a preface

The first was by Oscar Wilde, a very simple and
delicate poem to his wife. Its not very much, and in
less sure hands could be too mawkish or pretty. But
Wilde gets the balance just right, and the result is a
poem which I read just casually once, but its always
stayed with me.

Vikram

[Martin adds]

As Vikram says, the poem has a very light, delicate touch - I was reminded in
places of Teasdale. What particularly struck me was the way it kept getting
better with every line - it starts off conventionally enough, but by the time
it gets to the last verse, it is evident that Wilde has painted a softly
beautiful image with a few, precise strokes; and the last line is quietly and
hauntingly perfect.

8 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

jenny kirkby said...

What a lovely poem! I hope that, since wind and winter did indeed
harden on both their lives, that she found it some comfort, and
remembered, and understood.

Jenny

Acynta said...

I find this confusing:

"For if of these fallen petals,
one to you seem fair, ..."

Shouldn't it be "seems fair", as "one" is the subject, not "petals"? Is this
a typo?

Sorry to be uptight.

carlynn

Don José said...

The statement is in the subjunctive mood (indicated by the "if"), and thus
takes the seemingly plural "seem." It's the same mood as when one says "If
I were..." instead of "If I was...."

DJ (anal, if not uptight)

A E Smith JP said...

Three small verses, yet I think a good writer could couch a book, yet still have energy to unravel the mysteries contained therein

kamagra said...

Excellent post dear blogger and even better was the poem above, I think Oscar Wilde is one of the best in his category and anyone can support my version. There he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life. He died destitute in Paris at the age of forty-six. 23jj

xlpharmacy said...

This is 'the poem I'd like to make to my mother because I could feel an incredible sensation when I read it, I know if I write this poem ¡for my mother she'll be so excited.

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