The Light Gatherer Poem by Carol Ann Duffy

The Light Gatherer

Rating: 4.8


When you were small, your cupped palms
each held a candleworth under the skin, enough light to begin,
and as you grew,
light gathered in you, two clear raindrops
in your eyes,
warm pearls, shy,
in the lobes of your ears, even always
the light of a smile after your tears.
Your kissed feet glowed in my one hand,
or I'd enter a room to see the corner you played in
lit like a stage set,
the crown of your bowed head spotlit.
When language came, it glittered like a river,
silver, clever with fish,
and you slept
with the whole moon held in your arms for a night light
where I knelt watching.
Light gatherer. You fell from a star
into my lap, the soft lamp at the bedside
mirrored in you,
and now you shine like a snowgirl,
a buttercup under a chin, the wide blue yonder
you squeal at and fly in,
like a jewelled cave,
turquoise and diamond and gold, opening out
at the end of a tunnnel of years.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: mom
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Judy Dykstra-Brown 24 April 2021

Carol, your poem itself is a bright shining light. Tender and wonderful.

1 3 Reply
Bill Wright 22 April 2016

I enjoyed this poem, the exact antithesis of some of her darker work. A lady with many pacets to her poetry.

3 3 Reply
Prence Shqipe 16 April 2015

A maternal poem, discovering before our eyes divine evolution of another human being, falling from the star into poets lap, full of light and glow.A magical, tender bond with the baby: ‘When language came, it glittered like a river, silver, clever with fish’, the awesome feeling when she learns a new word or when she does something for the first time and how a little smile after tears can melt her heart… I remained very touched from this poem. Poet uses simple words in a complicated way to reveal the truth. Stunning!

6 3 Reply
Prence Shqipe 16 April 2015

A maternal poem, discovering before our eyes divine evolution of another human being, falling from the star into poets lap, full of light and glow.A magical, tender bond with the baby: ‘When language came, it glittered like a river, silver, clever with fish’, the awesome feeling when she learns a new word or when she does something for the first time and how a little smile after tears can melt her heart… A touching poem. Poet uses simple words in a complicated way to reveal the truth. Stunning!

4 4 Reply
Kelly Kurt 08 April 2015

A wonderful and touching poem, Carol. Thanks for sharing Peace

4 4 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy

Glasgow / Scotland
Close
Error Success