Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Spring, by Delmore Schwartz


Johann Strauss Jr. - Spring Waltz

(After Rilke)

Spring has returned! Everything has returned!
The earth, just like a schoolgirl, memorizes
Poems, so many poems. ... Look, she has learned
So many famous poems, she has earned so many prizes!

Teacher was strict. We delighted in the white
Of the old man's beard, bright like the snow's:
Now we may ask which names are wrong, or right
For "blue," for "apple," for "ripe." She knows, she knows!

Lucky earth, let out of school, now you must play
Hide-and-seek with all the children every day:
You must hide that we may seek you: we will! We will!

The happiest child will hold you. She knows all the things
You taught her: the word for "hope," and for "believe,"
Are still upon her tongue. She sings and sings and sings.


from Last and Lost Poems (Vanguard Press, 1979)
as posted at panhala.net

2 comments:

Prospero said...

my canadian friends (international spies and one talentless ice carver--if you must know) tell me that it is summer there now (no need for spring - just launch into the heavy stuff, maple syrup be damned!)

m said...

your spy friends did not deceive you, summer passed by here and now seems to be on her way out again. hopefully only a quick exit this time.

from what i hear more than maple syrup will be damned because of this unannounced visit, and that's only what can be predicted.