Eyewear has always loved Sylvia Plath's poetry. Therefore, it considers the discovery and online publication of a new poem by her cause for some celebration, even at such a solemn time as on All Soul's Day. For Plath, in her way, was great-souled, and open. The link to the poem is below. As an aside, "Ennui" (a title that harks back to decadent French poetry of the 19th century) is also a title of one of my poems, published in the collection Rue du Regard (Montreal, 2004). It is below.
Ennui
These narrow proud hours, afternoon’s,
imprisoned in the footnotes of the day: three
to evening’s commencement, want so much
out of themselves, and me: their ambition
aches, the heart knowing its bored mistress
has selected a finer suitor for enjoyments.
In this period: august, terminal, promising
all, desiring more, I refuse royal decrees,
the slow time’s purple writs, its arrogance
of minutes, illuminated spring, and hot
summer, building to release behind showy
hesitations cloud-cover introduces. Instead
of agreeing to create, a coy lady entowered;
throw down their ladders, pleas, enjoinders,
curl to my own pleased bed, undiminished.
Many the works best left than ever finished.
These narrow proud hours, afternoon’s,
imprisoned in the footnotes of the day: three
to evening’s commencement, want so much
out of themselves, and me: their ambition
aches, the heart knowing its bored mistress
has selected a finer suitor for enjoyments.
In this period: august, terminal, promising
all, desiring more, I refuse royal decrees,
the slow time’s purple writs, its arrogance
of minutes, illuminated spring, and hot
summer, building to release behind showy
hesitations cloud-cover introduces. Instead
of agreeing to create, a coy lady entowered;
throw down their ladders, pleas, enjoinders,
curl to my own pleased bed, undiminished.
Many the works best left than ever finished.
poem by Todd Swift
Comments