The French Horn
The French Horn
Original Text
Ruth Gilbert, Collected Poems (1984): 128.
1Cello or violin --
2The lament of singing wood --
4I have heard and understood.
5And flute-song, poignant, pure,
6Whose twilight grieving is
7Not sorrow, but sorrow’s perfect
8Metamorphosis.
9Lute too, and lyre, and harp
10Speak, and the ear, the air
11Ache with old wounds -- yet these
12Spirit and flesh can bear.
13But this note, passionless, sad,
14Like the voice of one betrayed
15Haunts the heart; grief’s ghost
Notes
3] Ruth Gilbert's father made violins. Back to Line
16] laid: placed down, put to rest. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2009
Rhyme
Form
Special Copyright
"The French Horn" © Ruth Gilbert. Printed gratis, and specifically for <i>Representative Poetry Online</i>, with permission of the author. As published in <i>Collected Poems</i> (1984). Any other use, including reproduction for any purposes, educational or otherwise, will require explicit written permission from Ruth Gilbert.