Classic and Contemporary Poetry
KING AND HERMIT, by ANONYMOUS First Line: "now, marvan, hermit of the grot" Last Line: So I might live my life with thee Subject(s): Hermits;nature | ||||||||
[Marvan, brother of King Guare of Connaught, in the seventh century, had renounced the life of a warrior prince for that of a hermit. The King endeavoured to persuade his brother to return to his court, when the following colloquy took place between them.] GUARE Now, Marvan, hermit of the grot, Why sleepest thou not on quilted feathers? Why on a pitch-pine floor instead Still make thy bed, despite all weathers? MARVAN I have a shieling in the wood, None save my God has knowledge of it, An ash tree and a hazel nut Its two sides shut, great oak-boughs roof it. Two heath-clad posts beneath a buckle Of honeysuckle its frame are propping, The woods around its narrow bound Swine fattening mast are richly dropping. From out my shieling not too small, Familiar all, fair paths invite me, Now, blackbird, from my gable end, Sweet sable friend, thy notes delight me! With joy the stags of Oakridge leap Into their clear and deep-banked river, Far off, red Roiny glows with joy, Muckraw, Moinmoy in sunshine quiver. With mighty mane a green-barked yew Upholds the blue; his fortress green An oak uprears against the storms-- Tremendous forms, stupendous scene! Mine apple-tree is full of fruit From crown to root--a hostel's store-- My bonny nut-full hazel bush Leans branching lush against my door. A choice pure spring of cooling draught Is mine; what prince has quaffed a rarer? Around it cresses keen, O King, Invite the famishing wayfarer. Tame swine and wild and goat and deer Assemble here upon its brink, Yea! even the badger's brood draw near And without fear lie down to drink. A peaceful troop of creatures strange, They hither range from wood and height, To meet them slender foxes steal At vesper peal, O my delight! These visitants, as to a Court, Frequent resort to seek me out, Pure water, Brother Guare, are they, The salmon grey, the speckled trout: Red rowans, dusky sloes and mast-- O unsurpassed and God-sent dish, Blackberries, whortleberries blue, Red strawberries to my taste and with; Sweet apples, honey of wild bees, And, after them, of eggs a clutch, Haws, berries of the juniper-- Who, King, could cast a slur on such? A cup with mead of hazel-nut Outside my hut, in summer shine, Or ale, with herbs from wood and spring, Are worth, O King, thy costliest wine. Bright bluebells o'er my board I throw-- A lovely show my feast to spangle-- The rushes' radiance, oaklets gray, Briar-tresses gay--sweet, goodly tangle. When brilliant summer casts once more Her cloak of colour o'er the fields, Sweet-tasting marjoram, pignut, leek-- To all who seek--her verdure yields. Her bright red-breasted little men Their lovely music then outpour, The thrush exults, the cuckoos all Around her call and call once more. The bees, earth's small musicians, hum, No longer dumb, in gentle chorus, Like echoes faint of that long plaint The fleeing wild-fowl murmur o'er us. The wren, an active songster now, From off the hazel-bough pipes shrill, Woodpeckers flock in multitudes With beauteous hoods and beating bill. With fair white birds, the crane and gull, The fields are full, while cuckoos cry. No mournful music! Heath poults dun Through russet heather sunward fly. The heifers now with loud delight, Summer bright, salute thy reign; Comfort smooth for toilsome loss 'Tis now to cross the fertile plain. The warblings of the wind that sweep From branchy wood to sapphire sky, The river falls, the swan's far note-- Delicious music floating by! Earth's bravest band, because unhired, All day untired, makes cheer for me. In Christ's own eyes of endless youth Can this same truth be said of thee? What though in Kingly pleasures now Beyond all riches thou rejoice, Content am I my Saviour good Should on this wood have set my choice. Without one hour of war or strife, Through all my life at peace I fare. Where better can I keep my tryst With our Lord Christ, O brother Guare? GUARE My glorious Kingship, yea! and all My sire's estates that fall to me, My Marvan, I would gladly give, So I might live my life with thee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INTERRUPTED MEDITATION by ROBERT HASS TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS THE FATALIST: HOME by LYN HEJINIAN WRITING IS AN AID TO MEMORY: 17 by LYN HEJINIAN LET US GATHER IN A FLOURISHING WAY by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA IN MICHAEL ROBINS?ÇÖS CLASS MINUS ONE by HICOK. BOB BREADTH. CIRCLE. DESERT. MONARCH. MONTH. WISDOM by JOHN HOLLANDER VARIATIONS: 16 by CONRAD AIKEN UNHOLY SONNET 13 by MARK JARMAN TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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