This from "Of Gravity & Angels," by Jane Hirshfield. Loved the sly reference to W.H. Auden's poem, "Musee des Beau Arts."
Osiris
They may tell you the god is broken
into a higher life,
but it isn't true:
the one who comes back remains,
even riveted, even pieced-
together in spring,
an always-broken god.
The knots survive in his body,
the clenched-grain scars.
And the iced winter ponds are real:
the children, skating lightly there,
feel a secret shiver
as they cross the blue places
of darkness rising-to-meet,
where the other face of the god
is looking up.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
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2 comments:
Sly indeed, so I had to go there, looking for something new. Found an old friend. Nicholas Roeg used the image and poem as an introduction to the movie “Man who fell to Earth” Starring David Bowie. There indifference is the norm, as news of an alien landing is suppressed: “Because it is an election year” http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jul/28/review-man-who-fell-earth/
But that is aside; Osiris the recycled God is a different image and the collection’s title:”Of gravity & angels” is a world within itself. Thanks for the post.
"Musee" is one of my favorite poems. Indifference by the world to "tragedies" is the norm. It just keeps moving on.
Hirshfield was a new poet to me. Her work is wonderful. Go buy some of her books. Support your poet today!
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