Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Linda Mitchell here. Thank you Linda for hosting!
Not long ago, after the snow melted and spring was on the way, I stopped at Woodstock, NY, on my way home from a family visit. This creek runs through town.
Woodstock is not where the famous 1969 music festival was held. That was Bethel, NY, but Woodstock is an arts community, with craft shops and an independent bookstore. There I found this wonderful 2021 anthology of poems entitled, 100 POEMS TO BREAK YOUR HEART, edited by Edward Hirsch who is a poet and a teacher. Though it is not about poetry “mostly for children,”as in my blog title, I do think that some older adolescents might enjoy and learn from this book.
Hirsch has chosen one hundred stunning poems, most I’ve never heard of, and gives us a brief history of the poet and discusses why each poem continues to stir readers’ emotions.
Poet Edward Thomas was a young man, born in 1878, who loved walking and studying nature. I discovered him in this book and found this lovely photo on Wikipedia.
Edward Thomas (1878-1917)
Thomas is known today for his war poems. “The Owl” was written in February 1915 after the start of World War l. Still a civilian, with great empathy he describes the comforts of food, fire and rest during one evening, knowing these are things that soldiers and unfortunate others, are not able to enjoy that night.
THE OWL by Edward Thomas (1915) Downhill I came, hungry, and yet not starved; Cold, yet had heat within me that was proof Against the North wind; tired, yet so that rest Had seemed the sweetest thing under a roof. Then at the inn had food, fire, and rest, Knowing how hungry cold, and tired was I, All of the night was quite barred out except An owl's cry, a most melancholy cry Shaken out long and clear upon the hill, No merry note, nor cause of merriment, But one telling me plain what I escaped And others couldn't, that night, as in I went. And salted was my food, and my repose, Salted and sobered, too, by the bird's voice Speaking for all who lay under the stars, Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice.
Three months later, Thomas joins the British Army, and two years later, died during a shell blast.
There are a few interesting craft notes that Hirsch brought to my attention. One is the owl’s cry which recalls the owl in Shakespeare’s LOVE’S LABOUR LOST. But in contrast to the Bard’s owl with its “merry note”, Thomas’ owl is melancholy.
Also the owls cry is introduced at the last line of the second stanza and the stanza break extends it’s effect with, “Shaken out long and clear upon the hill.”
The last line of the third stanza, which Hirsch describes as “an important hinge” to the poem, is eleven syllables. All the rest in the poem are ten. A hinge because it introduces the “others” that Thomas is thinking of.
In the fourth stanza, the word “salted” is a wonderful word that can simply make us think of seasoning in food, but also brings to mind tears, and sadness the author feels thinking of all those others outside the inn where he finds comfort.
This poem broke my heart. Hirsch discusses THE OWL, and many others, in a clear and accessible way.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Oh my…that whole poem is like a bird’s cry. I can read it but the memory of it hangs about. Those last lines are not complicated but are such a testament. I love this poem. I might try this one out with students and see what they take from it. Thank you for sharing.
“unable to rejoice” as the poet has this evening leaves the sadness for all to ponder, doesn’t it? Thanks for this, Janice, it is one that shows he really means it with that title of the book. Thanks for sharing this new one.
Janice, before the pandemic, I shared a mini-unit lesson I created on WWI poems to share with high school students. This poem would make a nice add-on to the lessons since it is written from a layman’s point of view. Sorrow is a strong emotion felt by all during wartime. This poem has a rightful place in the book you found. Thanks for the new knowledge that the Woodstock did not happen in that town. My college friend went to the concert and came to visit me in Syracuse right after. Naturally, he had many stories to tell and they all revolved around Woodstock. Until now, I always thought Woodstock was the location of the famous concert.
Janice,
Thank you for the poem from Edward Thomas and the book recommendation. “The Owl” is melancholy and shows the empathy he had for those who couldn’t find relief like he could. I appreciated the notes from Hirsch about the poem and the photo. I enjoyed your post.
Hi Janice, thank you for sharing this poem and Hirsch’s notes… fascinating! As a reader and human on the journey, I crave poems that break my heart. xo
Oh my gosh, what a story, Janice. Thank you for sharing Edward Thomas and his poem with us. (My parents used to live near Woodstock and I loved to visit!)
A number of British poets rose to prominence during WW 1 Owen, Sassoon and Brooke in particular. This poem by Edward Thomas is something of a bitter sweet recounting and suggestive of restraint being imposed by the circumstances of combat. I was taken by the language structure employed by the poet. It was most apparent across the scope of the poem as exemplified by lines such as-‘Knowing how hungry cold, and tired was I.’ Thank you for bringing this poem to our attention Janice, along with the ‘liner notes’ courtesy of Hirsch. It’s always a joy to uncover hidden poetic treasures. I recall visiting the town of Woodstock with American friends during my time in New York…
Thanks for digging into this poem. I’ve read it before, but now I read it with new eyes. Especially that word “salted.”
This is a wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing it. It is hard to enjoy comfort when we know so many in the world are deprived of it. And of course I always like a poem with a bird in it. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this descriptive, beautiful, and melancholic poem Janice. I think your book is a real find! And thanks also for sharing Hirsch’s and your commentary on the poem, they both make it that much richer!