Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tuesday Poetry Post-Dylan Thomas: In my Craft or Sullen Art


In my Craft or Sullen Art
by Dylan Thomas

In my craft or sullen art
Exercised in the still night
When only the moon rages
And the lovers lie abed
With all their griefs in their arms,
I labour by singing light
Not for ambition or bread
Or the strut and trade of charms
On the ivory stages
But for the common wages
Of their most secret heart.
Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Nor for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art.
*photo by Bradley Davis: BackpackPhotography

4 comments:

Kristin Hjellegjerde said...

Brilliant poem!
But the lovers, their arms
Round the grief of the ages,...
ah!

Michelle Kendrick Hartney said...

I know, so great isn't it?!!

Claire Kiefer said...

I'm happy to read this. I am a poet, have an MFA in poetry, and I get so caught up in contemporary poetry that I forget to read the classics sometimes. Thanks for reminding me (though "with all their griefs in their arms" is gonna haunt me all day). :)

Michelle Kendrick Hartney said...

Claire that is so incredible that you got your MFA in poetry! That line is pretty amazing indeed.

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