For those of you who don't know, I like poetry. Not in an overtly-pretentious kind of way, but I enjoy it here and there. Wordsworth, Yeats, Browning-these have been my faithful friends for many a year. (Thank you private schooling and 18th century lit in uni.)
That being said, I recently found a book (not of poetry) at the library, by L.M. Montgomery. Montgomery, authoress of the "Anne" (of Green Gables series) has long been one of my most beloved writers. I've read through all of the "Anne" books 6-7 times. This is a true story. I've cried at a particular place in the 8th book all but one time.
(One of my aunts tells me "You are Anne of Green Gables." I take it as one of the highest compliments of my life.)
Anyhoo. I found what publishers are claiming is the 9th "Anne" book, tucked away on the library shelves. Apparently Montgomery dropped this book, "The Blythes are Quoted," off at her publisher's the day she died. Hmmmmm. #thisisverydramatic
So I've been reading through it the past few weeks (I am potentially a bit behind on my goal of reading 52 books this year, shhhh) and there are many intermittent poems in it by this Anne-girl.
I wanted to put 3 or so in here today but since this is already long...here's one for the road:
SUCCESS
Come, drain the cup held to our lips at last,
Though it may yield the briny taste of tears,
For this we have foregone our joy of youth,
For this we have lived bitter, patient years...
What tang does brew of fig and thistle keep?
Let us drink deep!
Oh, shudder not...the goblet is of gold!
For this we bent our knee at a grim shrine
While others danced to kind and merry gods!
For this we put aside life's choicest wine,
To slake our still unsated thirst lift up
This sacramental cup!
Surely 'twill pay for all that we have missed...
Laughter unlaughed, sweet hours of love and sleep,
Hungers unsatisfied and barren dreams,
How the sly years are mocking us! Drink deep
And vaunt...for who can guess it is a lie?...
The price was not too high.
Was it for such a devil's jorum we
Bartered our precious things and turned from ease,
Winning by dint of many a gallant day
Splendid defeats and abject victories?
But see you not how bright the diamonds wink?
Be brave...once more...and drink!
-Anne Blythe