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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN ERASURE, by JANE BARLOW Poet's Biography
First Line: Charmed to most crystal stillness by a wand
Last Line: To brood on—or such deft forgetfulness.
Subject(s): Aging; Forgetfulness; Memory
First Line: Charmed to most crystal stillness by a wand
Last Line: To brood on—or such deft forgetfulness.
Subject(s): Aging; Forgetfulness; Memory
CHARMED to most crystal stillness by a wand
Of sunlit calm, the mountain lake to-day
Thought all her steep groves over, leaf and spray,
Nor missed one dim bluebell or tawny frond—
So earnestly her lovely task she conned—
Or streak of gold-green turf that seemed a ray
'Twixt beechen stems, or lichened boulder grey,
Or curve of keen-edged crag uplift beyond.
And now the flagging pinion of a breeze
Scarce flicked the water, yet swift ripples press
With myriad lines to blur all trace of these.
Great wealth, sad heart, were thine did'st thou possess
But half her gift: such happy memories
To brood on—or such deft forgetfulness.
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
MEMORY AS A HEARING AID by TONY HOAGLAND
THE SAME QUESTION by JOHN HOLLANDER
FORGET HOW TO REMEMBER HOW TO FORGET by JOHN HOLLANDER
ON THAT SIDE by LAWRENCE JOSEPH
MEMORY OF A PORCH by DONALD JUSTICE
BEYOND THE HUNTING WOODS by DONALD JUSTICE
A CURLEW'S CALL by JANE BARLOW