by phillipw | Jan 28, 2023 | DE, SN, SW
Windsor Swans and Stillness Because their silence Broods complete in winter snow, White swans disappear. ~ Phillip Whidden They know themselves. They know their whiteness shines. Perhaps they have a slight acquaintance with The...
by phillipw | Sep 13, 2021 | BR, CH, JO, MA, MI, NU, RU, SK, SW, VI, WO
Skinny-dipping with Rupert Brooke, Sturdy as a Marlowe Stanza or Miltonic Ones, in a Night-time Cambridgeshire Pool Virginia Woolf had seen him. She had seen Him whole. She saw his soul, good-hearted, kind, Substantial. She had seen him leaping, clean, More clean...
by phillipw | Jun 9, 2021 | GA, JU, LE, SW, ZE
The Age of the Gods Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem The age of gods remains the same, a still Forever. As they were, they ever are, And ever will be, in a changeless, chill, Transparent medium. ...
by phillipw | Feb 27, 2021 | AE, BE, ES, SW
Above, Beyond The swan does not desire to leave his white On water. Swimming on the surface he Turns neck and head towards his goal with slight Concern for beauty. Serendipity Meanders on the surface. Folded wings Are calmer than the flowing stream he...
by phillipw | Feb 27, 2021 | AE, BE, BU, ES, PH, PL, SW
Solemnity The swan reflects the water. Water’s light Shines off the grace. It moves like moon-drawn flow Up rivers. Streaming feathers claim the white Of foam on ocean waves. The feathers go Where God would go if he were mortal in A world devoid...
by phillipw | Oct 7, 2020 | EL, PO, SS, ST, SW, TR
Translations of Poetry Are Not Like Translations of Saints to Heaven Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Elijah Translators kiss a piece of writing to Another language. Does the piece survive This...
by phillipw | Aug 16, 2020 | RI, SW
Pennage Serendipity In shrouds a stretch of river there beneath The overhanging limbs of dark, dark trees (The Thames itself blocked out from light like death) Is suddenly a space where swans at ease Are floating like the souls of angels on The surface of the...
by phillipw | Jul 26, 2020 | DE, SW
Swans in Meaningful Blue The swans pretend that death does not exist, Or one at least turns, drifting, with his eyes Ignoring it. Still, never mind the mist, The shadows far away use its disguise To threaten him so gently that he does not Record the menace. ...
by phillipw | Jul 16, 2020 | AP, ET, IM, OR, SW
Stretching the Eternal Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem “the soul’s survival and residual divinity” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets, 23 The followers of Orpheus, if not The man himself, desired...
by phillipw | May 14, 2020 | DE, PI, SW
Wonder Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem If you had never seen a swan before And suddenly one glided into view, That instant would be like an open door To white and winged epiphany. The true...
by phillipw | Dec 30, 2019 | SW
Consider the Swan after Sunset Consider how the swan lifts up his wings Above his pinion shape while gliding on The River Thames at Windsor. Athelings Were never quite so handsome in the dawn Of England’s whiteless history (so full Of scarlet slaughter). Not that...
by phillipw | Oct 17, 2019 | AL, SW
Plutarch on the Perfume of Alexander’s Skin “Aristoxenus in his Memoirs tells us that a most agreeable odour exhaled from his skin, and that his breath and body all over was so fragrant as to perfume the clothes which he wore next him” ...
by phillipw | Aug 23, 2019 | BE, SW
Consider How the Swan Lifts Up His Wings Consider how the swan lifts up his wings Above his pinion shape while gliding on The River Thames at Windsor. Athelings Were never quite so handsome in the dawn Of England’s whiteless history (so full Of scarlet...
by phillipw | Aug 13, 2019 | SW
The Thames at Windsor this Sunset The evening sunlight shines unevenly Upon the floating water and the swan. His neck receives the lovely force we see Along its curving back like cream chiffon In candlelight. He moves away from west To east just while the sun is...