A Love Song by William Carlos Williams
A Love Song
William Carlos WilliamsWhat have I to say to you
When we shall meet?
Yet—
I lie here thinking of you.The stain of love
Is upon the world.
Yellow, yellow, yellow,
It eats into the leaves,
Smears with saffron
The horned branches that lean
Heavily
Against a smooth purple sky.There is no light—
Only a honey-thick stain
That drips from leaf to leaf
And limb to limb
Spoiling the colours
Of the whole world.I am alone.
The weight of love
Has buoyed me up
Till my head
Knocks against the sky.See me!
My hair is dripping with nectar—
Starlings carry it
On their black wings.
See, at last
My arms and my hands
Are lying idle.How can I tell
If I shall ever love you again
As I do now?
MARGINALIA
Where has the week gone? I am losing days again.
ABOUT WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS
William Carlos Williams was born the first of two sons of an English father and a Puerto Rican mother of French, Dutch, Spanish, and Jewish ancestry, and he grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey. He was a medical doctor, poet, novelist, essayist, and playwright. With Ezra Pound and H.D., Williams was a leading poet of the Imagist movement and often wrote of American subjects and themes. Though his career was initially overshadowed by other poets, he became an inspiration to the Beat… (more)
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ENDNOTES
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William Eaton
Merci!