National Poetry Day

Its National Poetry Day today --- and this year's theme is: stars.

As per the last few years, I'll reproduce my favourite poem that deals with this year's topic ...

... and, for me, this was an easy choice as it just has to be William Blake's 1783 poem, 'To the Evening Star'.

Blake is calling on the Goddess of Love to protect him during the dark of the night, and inspire all that is oppressed during daytime.

Incredible to think that it's almost 230-years old, yet it still speaks to me like it was written just yesterday:

TO THE EVENING STAR

by: William Blake (1757-1827)

 

Thou fair-hair'd angel of the evening,
Now, while the sun rests on the mountains, light
Thy bright torch of love; thy radiant crown
Put on, and smile upon our evening bed!

Smile on our loves; and, while thou drawest the
Blue curtains of the sky, scatter thy silver dew
On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes
In timely sleep. Let thy west wind sleep on

The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes,
And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full soon,
Dost thou withdraw; then the wolf rages wide,
And the lion glares thro' the dun forest:

The fleeces of our flocks are cover'd with
Thy sacred dew: protect them with thine influence.

 

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