This quilt that I made in October was inspired by lines from Ars Poetica.
Ars Poetica
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit,
Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb,
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown --
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds.
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs,
Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,
Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind --
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs.
A poem should be equal to:
Not true.
For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf.
For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea --
A poem should not mean
But be.
~Archibald MacLeish
My April reading list is posted here.
I remember that quilt but had forgotten (or maybe never knew?) that it was inspired by a poem. Cool!
ReplyDeleteA lovely quilt and a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteDebR, I just posted the lines about the "night entangled trees" when I wrote about the quilt originally. But the lines were in my head as soon as the first tree was on.
ReplyDeleteMicki, thanks. I've always loved that poem.
I always find the lines
ReplyDelete'For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf'
so poignant.
i love that this poem inspired your gorgeous quilt. Thank you for sharing these words that are new to me. I love those last two lines!
ReplyDeleteJen - love your tree quilt - very inspiring to see one done in black and white... hmmm PP
ReplyDeleteI love the poem and the quilt. I've been experimenting with gray quilts - haven't gotten the art part down yet, but trying.
ReplyDelete