In 1976, David Hockney created a portfolio of twenty etchings called The Blue Guitar: Etchings By David Hockney Who Was Inspired By Wallace Stevens Who Was Inspired By Pablo Picasso |
"Of the Surface of Things"
by Wallace Stevens (1879-1955)
by Wallace Stevens (1879-1955)
I
In my room, the world is beyond my understanding,
But when I walk, I see that it consists of three or four hills and
a cloud.
But when I walk, I see that it consists of three or four hills and
a cloud.
II
From my balcony, I survey the yellow air,
Reading where I have written,
‘The spring is like a belle undressing.’
Reading where I have written,
‘The spring is like a belle undressing.’
III
The gold tree is blue.
The singer has pulled his cloak over his head.
The moon is in the folds of the cloak.
The singer has pulled his cloak over his head.
The moon is in the folds of the cloak.
(Wallace Stevens spent most of his life working as an executive for an insurance company. Where, indeed, does poetry come from?)
1 comment:
I'm enjoying your poetry posts - hadn't come across this one, though The Blue Guitar became one of my favourites after hearing an interview with David Hockney in which he read it.
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