Poetry Sunday: A Dirge

Last week, I read The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith, aka J.K. Rowling, and I enjoyed it immensely. I learned that the rather enigmatic name of the book was taken from an evocative and affecting poem by Christina Rossetti called A Dirge. Let's make it the featured poem of the week.

A Dirge

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
Why were you born when the snow was falling?
You should have come to the cuckoo’s calling,
Or when grapes are green in the cluster,
Or, at least, when lithe swallows muster
   For their far off flying
   From summer dying.

Why did you die when the lambs were cropping?
You should have died at the apples’ dropping,
When the grasshopper comes to trouble,
And the wheat-fields are sodden stubble,
   And all winds go sighing
   For sweet things dying.

Comments

  1. CaroleSeptember 30, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    Dorothy - I've never seen this one before. very touching. And I need to read Cuckoo's Calling too. Cheers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersSeptember 30, 2013 at 5:54 PM

      I think you would enjoy the book. It's well written as one would expect from this author.

      Delete

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