A nice poem by Wallace Stevens

[cameron]

The River of Rivers in Connecticut

There is a great river this side of Stygia
Before one comes to the first black cataracts
And trees that lack the intelligence of trees.

In that river, far this side of Stygia,
The mere flowing of the water is a gayety,
Flashing and flashing in the sun. On its banks,

No shadow walks. The river is fateful,
Like the last one. But there is no ferryman.
He could not bend against its propelling force.

It is not to be seen beneath the appearances
That tell of it. The steeple at Farmington
Stands glistening and Haddam shines and sways.

It is the third commonness with light and air,
A curriculum, a vigor, a local abstraction . . .
Call it, one more, a river, an unnamed flowing,

Space-filled, reflecting the seasons, the folk-lore
Of each of the senses; call it, again and again,
The river that flows nowhere, like a sea.

[David]

Really good Cam. I feel I should read more Wallace Stevens - so far as I can tell, he is the American giant of the 20th century. You think?

Cheers

David

[cameron]

I haven't read enough of his stuff to say for sure. He certainly seems to be a high-brow contender.

I normally visit the college library before I start work everyday and I do this "use the force Luke" thing where I wonder down the poetry aisle and wait for something to grab me. Yesterday it was Wallace Stevens Collected. I read about six poems - and thought this was the best.

C

[Wabznasm]

I enjoyed that, ta.

It warrants more than two or three reads though - Stevens is an intensely complicated poet.

David -

The poem you really want to read in order to 'get' Stevens is Sunday Morning. It's held by most to be his best - a lot say he never surpassed it.

I particularly like Dissilusionment at Ten O'Clock.

I, admittedly, haven't read much. But he's a fascinating (and very philosophical) poet.

If you want a collection (and I'm going on what a few critics have said here) check out Harmonium. His first (and supposedly best) work.

Dave

[Minstrel]

' It is not to be seen beneath the appearances that tell of it '

What a great line.

[David]

The poem you really want to read in order to 'get' Stevens is Sunday Morning. It's held by most to be his best - a lot say he never surpassed it.

Dave, this was a good call. A lot might be right. I'm posting it here. It is stunningly good.

[Bombadil]

Such an odd dude. Good poet, but an odd dude.

He was a V.P. of an Insurance Firm in Connecticut for years. The folks at the office, when asked about Wally's poetry, knew nothing of it. "Why would he do a thing like that?"