Poetry Friday

We were reading Rosemary Sutcliff's The Wanderings of Ulysses the other day, and when we came to the part where Circe enters the action I suddenly remembered this poem from my English 310 days. It's an oldie but a goodie. If you like HD, that is.

Circe

It was easy enough
to bend them to my wish,
it was easy enough
to alter them with a touch,
but you
adrift on the great sea,
how shall I call you back?

Cedar and white ash,
rock-cedar and sand plants
and tamarisk
red cedar and white cedar
and black cedar from the inmost forest,
fragrance upon fragrance
and all of my sea-magic is for nought.

It was easy enough
a thought called them
from the sharp edges of the earth;
they prayed for a touch,
they cried for the sight of my face,
they entreated me
till in pity
I turned each to his own self.

...


But I would give up
rock-fringes of coral
and the inmost chamber
of my island palace
and my own gifts
and the whole region
of my power and magic
for your glance.

I have excerpted slightly, in case there is a copyright demon out there somewhere, so if you'd like to read this poem in its entirety, click here and scroll down a couple of poems.

Poetry Friday is being hosted at Mentor Texts, Read Alouds, and More - new blog for me. Thanks for hosting!