Visit of the Poets

“The silence of the meadowlark”
—Anonymous Photo
 

VISIT OF THE POETS
—Joyce Odam, Sacramento, CA
 
Then come to us
and we will give you
mysterious breads
and honey,
and we will give you
fruit to peel
and dates from
an apothecary jar.

And we will give you
all the hours of the night
for poetry
and bitter wine,
and we will give you
so much love
that you be drunk with us
and we with you.

And in the silence of
the meadowlark
whose broken song
has echoed through and through
and through,
we will give you
burning eyes
and a sun-torn hour
to take away
with you.


(first pub. in Aye, 1974, and The Poet, Being mini-chap, 2002)

___________________

Thanks, Joyce, for this beautiful poem! And note that the MoST Poetry Association will be holding a reading today at 240 Broadway in Turlock, featuring Joseph Nolan and others. Scroll down to the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info about this and other upcoming poetry events in our area—and note that more may be added at the last minute.

—Medusa