I Knew A Woman Once... Poem by Daniel Brick
I Knew A Woman Once...
I knew a woman once
whose smallest gestures
gave delight. When we left
the relatives behind in the cabin,
and walked into the sharp cool air,
there loomed before us a steep hill
we climbed with smiling ease. Everything
was in its place: the spongy ground,
the grass still wet with dew, the spring sun
even shyer than I, trying to shine
without calling attention to itself,
wanting to be appreciated but not singled out.
Oh, yes, I wanted to wear a disguise, but
words would suffice: spin a story, craft
a verse, quote a popular song, and if all
fails, rely on the moment for rescue:
describe the moment in its wonder,
how the earth gives off a smoky smell,
how the wet bark of trees darkly shines,
how everything within view makes you believe
in resurrection, how the hours grow younger
in her presence, how her presence makes you
hold your breath. Will any of this reach
her laughing heart? Inside you is a heaviness
but the words tumble out of you, careless words,
foolish words, words that blush but refuse
to stop their onslaught... And she smiles.
She turns at the summit of the hill in a complete
circle, once, twice, three times, still silent,
her arms outstretched, her hands waving,
her faced turned upward, receiving all the light
that is falling from heaven to earth. I knew
a woman once, who made me hold my breath,
I knew a woman once whose name was Spring!
Spring has always given me a sense of hope, renewal and revival. I loved the images of the bark and the scent of the earth and pondered on 'how the hours grow younger in her presence'...with delight.
Hello, Simone, it's great hearing from you! I just met a couple at the MET OPERA HD BROADCASTS in a movie theater who lived in New Zealand for 15 years but have returned to Minnesota. Thanks for your DELIGHT in this poem - Delight is its raison d'etre.
Contemplatively insightful poem, felt a quiet intrique underlying your words, made me wonder at first, are you speaking of a woman. But your imagery of nature: steep hill, spongy ground, grass wet with dew, smoky bark, wet bark, caught at my mind in an intense picture of spring filling the hillside with blossoming nature everywhere. Great poem, Daniel! Loved it! Thank you for sharing! RoseAnn
hey, daniel! the ending surprised me. thinking of myself, thinking of my poem semi-retired in early spring, i was not prepared for the last line. i like the surprise! which makes the title perfect. we are especially inclined to think of words words words when we come upon beauty. but then our attention goes from just taking it in to thinking about what is before us. i tend to think the moments we really see, which are few for me, are graced on us. we can center, can subdue the mind's restless thinking, but that's not the same, is it, of having those moments we escaped ourselves completely? (in my heart song which begins God is my second wind, i say this is where i long to be shaken from introspection drawn out beyond my skin and emptied.) the world is charged with the grandeur of God. hopkins got that right. glen
how everything within view makes you believe in resurrection, how the hours grow younger in her presence, how her presence makes you hold your breath. Will any of this reach her laughing heart? Inside you is a heaviness but the words tumble out of you, careless words, foolish words, words that blush but refuse to stop their onslaught... And she smiles. She turns at the summit of the hill in a complete circle, once, twice, three times, still silent, her arms outstretched, her hands waving, her faced turned upward, receiving all the light that is falling from heaven to earth. I knew a woman once, who made me hold my breath, I knew a woman once whose name was Spring! - - - - - -Wow- - - What other name is there to describe this wonder woman than SPRING'
Feelings personified in single gestures and actions.TRUE POESY.
Grasp that woman in your arms and hold her till flowers fall from your pockets and music flows out of your ears, Daniel. The personification in the poem is real. Spring is real. She's really hear. I can see her too! Well done.
Reread it because a double image kept sliding around my mind, one hand a woman, other nature. Thought- provoking, keeping me wondering and guessing! Really good one! RoseAnn
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/3/2024 9:45:18 PM # 1.0.0.1119
I thought it you went from marriage - and went for a walk. and you were shy but happy! she was like spring - resurrection of nature. I want MORE from you, Daniel. it is still an earthly poem. I long for stratosphere! thank you for fresh air! ! ! !
Yes, it is an earthly poem in the sense that John Keats meant when he wrote in a sonnet THE POETRY OF EARTH IS NEVER ENDING. I'm working my way forward, soon I'll be going upward, as you encourage. I don't want to make a FALSE or PREMATURE STEP. I'll keep sending fresh air to you.