Love

I haven't updated this blog for a little while but what with Christmas, New Year and coming towards the end of my job, I've been pretty busy.  I had a great festive period though and hope that anyone reading this did as well.  One of my favourite things about this festive period was spending lots of time with my boyfriend (thanks for an amazing Christmas and New Year if you ever read this, Michael!)  I've steered clear of love poems so far, but tonight I'm going to tackle the subject with two of my favourite poems. 

In The Dying of Anything by Brian Patten

Speaking only that our words might bend grasses,

make paths which are both simple and possible,

we talk together and failing with words we touch.

There is nothing simpler nor more human than this.

Once ignorant of any feeling's end

we dreamt in proportion to galaxies,

measuring each other against rainbows love burst,

fell softly soaking us.

But we lie quieter now,

older,

arms pressed out against darkness.

In the dying of anything walks a creature looking for its song:

huge, it bends down planets that it might ask them

the ways back to life again.

No longer one steady and running stream

we are glad to lie here,

catching what life and light we can.

There is nothing simpler, nothing more human than this.

I love how this poem encapsulates some of my ideals of love, for instance, having shared dreams 'in proportion to galaxies' (which I think really sums up the ecstatic feeling of being able to do anything together), and the idea of going through life together, making things 'simple and possible'.  I also love that this poem ends with the couple still being together and protecting each other from the darkness.  The end can seem sad, with the images of water, life and light becoming scarcer, but they've shared a life together, and to me that's beautiful. 

I also love the line that's repeated in the poem: 'there is nothing simpler nor more human than this'.  Before being in a relationship, I found the thought of getting to know someone, of sharing myself with someone, of overcoming all those little hurdles at the beginning so difficult and overwhelming to imagine.  One of the best things about the relationship that I'm in now, though, is that it's all so easy - I'm sure we'll have difficult times, all relationships do - but just being together seems so natural and effortless.  Simple and human.

The second poem I want to share tonight is one that always makes me smile, and I also like it because I have seen the poet's wife speak about the poet and it was so clear how much she adored him.  This is one that he wrote for her. 

Celia Celia by Adrian Mitchell

When I am sad and weary

When I think all hope has gone

When I walk along High Holborn

I think of you with nothing on.

Short and to the point!  Adrian Mitchell is brilliant in my opinion and no doubt will be making further appearances on this blog.

Happy New Year!