The Round: Poem by Stanley Kunitz

The Round
Stanley Kunitz

Light splashed this morning
on the shell-pink anemones
swaying on their tall stems;
down blue-spiked veronica
light flowed in rivulets
over the humps of the honeybees;
this morning I saw light kiss
the silk of the roses
in their second flowering,
my late bloomers
flushed with their brandy.
A curious gladness shook me.

So I have shut the doors of my house,
so I have trudged downstairs to my cell,
so I am sitting in semi-dark
hunched over my desk
with nothing for a view
to tempt me
but a bloated compost heap,
steamy old stinkpile,
under my window;
and I pick my notebook up
and I start to read aloud
the still-wet words I scribbled
on the blotted page:
“Light splashed . . .”

I can scarcely wait till tomorrow
when a new life begins for me,
as it does each day,
as it does each day.

This poem appeared in Passing Through: The Later Poems, New and Selected by Stanley Kunitz, published by W.W. Norton, 1995. Shared here with profound gratitude to my source: readalittlepoetry.com

https://readalittlepoetry.com/2016/12/31/the-round-by-stanley-kunitz/

I hope you enjoyed the poem I chose for you today and that you find “hope” in the words of Stanley Kunitz. Thanks, friends. Bless you.

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Selma Martin

I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.

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This Post Has 18 Comments

writerravenclaw November 10, 2024 Reply

A beautiful, poem, and nature is a beautiful thing to wake up for.
1. Selma Martin November 10, 2024 Reply
  
  Oh yes! Nature is most deserving
  Thanks for reading Diana. Xo
Robbie cheadle November 10, 2024 Reply

I enjoyed this very much, Selma
1. Selma Martin November 10, 2024 Reply
  
  Happy you did dear Robbie. Blessing you. 🤗
Ephemeral Encounters November 10, 2024 Reply

Love this poem Selma.
Thank you for sharing.
1. Selma Martin November 10, 2024 Reply
  
  It’s my pleasure to share this, Maggie. Xoxo Glad you liked it.
  1. Ephemeral Encounters November 11, 2024 Reply
    
    I did Selma xox
    Thank you again.🙏🏻
Destiny November 10, 2024 Reply

a beautiful poem shared, Selma…thank you 🤍🙏
1. Selma Martin November 10, 2024 Reply
  
  It’s my pleasure. Happy you liked it, Destiny. Happy weekend to you.
  1. Destiny November 10, 2024 Reply
    
    and a happy one to you, Selma…🤍🌷
rajkkhoja November 11, 2024 Reply

Enjoy that’ poem . Nice words written in poem.
1. Selma Martin November 11, 2024 Reply
  
  Thanks Raj. Happy you liked it. 🤗
  1. rajkkhoja November 11, 2024 Reply
    
    🙋
rajkkhoja November 11, 2024 Reply

Most welcome,Selma & happy too!
Belladonna November 15, 2024 Reply

Beautiful poem Selma!
1. Selma Martin November 16, 2024 Reply
  
  I agree my friend. Beautiful 🤗
Dawn Pisturino November 16, 2024 Reply

A most interesting and provocative poem!
1. Selma Martin November 16, 2024 Reply
  
  I liked it too. Happy you read, Dawn. Blessings.