It’s Poetry Friday, hosted this week by Molly Hogan HERE at Nix the Comfort Zone. Thank you for hosting, Molly!
This week, I spent some time on the prompts Laura Shovan posted on Poetry Friday LAST WEEK. “Bodies” are the theme for her February Poetry Project. Thank you, Laura, for inviting us to be part of it. I found the prompts fun and challenging.
As I was choosing a subject for this week’s post I realized that Valentine’s Day is a few days off. I remember sending valentines like the one below made with paper lace doilies for my classmates. Be Mine, Valentine!
I searched for a love poem this week and on my shelves I found an old one, written in 1606 by Ben Jonson. Looks white, he’s not someone you would swoon over, perhaps, though that’s in the eye of the beholder. But I think he makes up for it in depth of feeling and earnestness. That’s really what matters.
Though four hundred years old, his love poem, in iambic meter, was immediately familiar, and so smooth to read aloud, maybe that’s why someone eventually put it to music:
SONG: TO CELIA
Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine:
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honoring thee,
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be.
But thou theron didst only breathe,
And sent'st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee.
I like the notion that the rose the lover gives to his love, Celia, could not wither. His love for her imbues it with life.
To write my own poem for this post, I found a Van Gogh painting, a picture that offered a possibility for an ekphrastic poem appropriate for Valentine’s Day.
The Dutch genius is one of my favorite artists, and I know I’m not alone. His yellows and blues, his skies and his flowers never fail to evoke strong emotion whenever I look at them. In this painting, Starry Night over the Rhône, at first I didn’t notice the two figures in the lower right. But there they were, with this fabulous backdrop, walking closely together as if oblivious to it. If they are lovers, maybe the stars and water are transformed by their love, like Jonson’s roses.
STAGELIGHTS (After Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhône) A starry night at the river bend, constellations in green starbursts— fantastic fireworks sparkle down on the waves flowing forever towards the sea, while a man and woman, arms linked, cloaked against the night air, stroll in the ancient light as if it shimmered for them. © Janice Scully 2021
I hope everyone has a good week. Maybe Valentine’s Day can provide momentary levity this week during the pandemic while teachers, health care workers, the government, and all essential workers continue to get the country back on track.
Do you want more info about Poetry Friday? Check HERE.
There’s so much loveliness here. The green starburst constellations and the man and woman who just know that it’s for them. A valentine, for sure. I have to agree with you about Ben Jonson…but golly, to be Celia. Who couldn’t resist such loving attention? I’ve seen some of the lines from this line before…or, at least they sound familiar. But, I don’t remember the whole poem. It was a joy to read this and know that someone wrote this to someone with such intensity.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Janice! I don’t believe I could sing all the words but did sing To Celia in my high school choir. I love your own poem, written for Van Gogh, for lovers everywhere. I do love that ending!
“As if it shimmered for them”
Perfect – those magic moments (with or without a lover) where you are sure that nature is showing off just for you. Happy valentine’s Day, Janice.
What a great post! Thank you!
This is the perfect Valentine Day post! Both love poems are…well… lovely! I am enchanted by the ending to yours–“as if it shimmered for them.” Perfect!
Thank you for this loverly post :). First, Jonson’s poem reminds me of my Dad, who used to sing the musical version at weddings. Second, I, too, didn’t really notice the couple at the bottom of Van Gogh’s masterpiece — what a revelation! Enjoyed your luminous poem (what a great title, too)! Happy Valentine’s Day, Janice!
“as if it shimmered / for them.” Janice, your poem is a lovely one for Valentine’s Day. May your day be filled with the beauty of nature and the warmth of love. For our new home in VA we bought a TV that has a gallery of masterpieces and nature photos that appear when the channels are not on. It is like having being in a museum gallery. Starry Night is one of the pieces of art so I plan on indulging in the masters’ artwork. Thanks for your dip into that.
The words that came to mind when I read your post Janice were, -‘all we need is love’- a basic human need. Ben Johnson’s words sounded familiar and interestingly, I think I first heard them as a song- not sure where or when. I agree with Sally and Carol, the final line of your poem is a such a strong end- an enduring image.
I love the thought of those green starbursts shimmering just for them–lovely poem. I also enjoyed the Ben Johnson one.
Ahhh, Janice! I love Van Gogh, too! Your poem is lovely and I, also, have never noticed the couple in the corner. Thank you for sharing your observation and poetry. I just finished reading The Hamilton Affair, your first poem made me think of what type of poem Alexander Hamilton might have written to his wife. I might have to work on this! Thanks for the inspiration! Stay Warm!
Beautiful poem Janice, very mood evoking, and these lines are lovely as is Van Gogh’s painting with star captured-colors,
“stroll in the ancient
light as if it shimmered
for them.”
Thanks!
Janice – such beautiful poems for Valentine’s Day! I have to tell you that I nearly fell out of my chair when I got to van Gogh. He and his work have been a recurring motif for me, especially since the start of the pandemic. Wrote about that earlier this week. The compelling colors you mention … the artist once wrote to his brother: “There is no blue without yellow and orange, and if you put in the blue, then you must also put in the yellow and orange, mustn’t you?” So much metaphor in that, for life. I love how you drew those two figures to the forefront as a focus in that ancient light – not just from stars above, but from the heart within.
“As if it shimmered for them” is so romantic! Happy hearts day!
Well, I haven’t thought of that song in decades, and I don’t think I knew it was a Ben Jonson poem! Writing to a painting is so productive, isn’t it? Like others, I like the “ancient light” that shimmers just for them–the word “ancient” makes all the difference in this stanza. Happy extended Val Day!
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