Sunday, March 01, 2009

Not knowing what I love

These are the first 2 verses of Anne Ridler’s poem, Choosing a Name, which powerfully captures the feelings on giving birth



My little son, I have cast you out
To hang heels upward, wailing over a world
With walls too wide.
My faith till now, & now my love:
No walls too wide for that to fill, no depth
Too great for all you hide

I love, not knowing what I love,
I give, though ignorant for whom
The history & power of a name
I conjure with it like a novice
Summoning unknown spirits: answering me
You take the word, & tame it.


Anne Ridler can be heard reading the poem at The Poetry Archive


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