What is precious
October 13th, 2010
What is precious is never to forget
The delight of the blood drawn from ancient springs
Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth;
Never to deny its pleasure in the simple morning light,
Nor its grave evening demand for love;
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog the flowering of the spirit.
An excerpt from Stephen Spender, ‘I Think of Those Who Were Truly Great’
4 Responses to “What is precious”
Beautiful! One of my favourite Spender poems is the one about his daughter:
‘Bright clasp of her whole hand around my finger,
My daughter, as we walk together now.
All my life I’ll feel a ring invisibly circle this bone
With shining,
When she is grown far from today
As her eyes are far already.’
Maria, Oh yes, my daughters and now my grandaughter, so true. Its their world, their future, just be there for them.
Woah, that’s beautiful Maria.
Both beautiful!
I too love the work of Stephen Spender.
Thank you for posting these Philip and Maria.
Love,
Gabriella
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