eatpoetry

Ovid in the Third Reich

by Geoffrey Hill

non peccat, quaecumque potest peccasse negare,
solaque famosam culpa professa facit.
Amores, III, xiv

I love my work and my children. God
Is distant, difficult. Things happen.
Too near the ancient troughs of blood
Innocence is no earthly weapon.

I have learned one thing: not to look down
So much upon the damned. They, in their sphere,
Harmonize strangely with the divine
Love. I, in mine, celebrate the love-choir.

Today’s Top Poets

My top five living poets and their pieces.

1. Geoffrey Hill, September Song

2. Yevgeny Yevtushenko, The House Swayed…

3. Maya Angelou, Alone

4. Tony Harrison, V

5. David Lehman, Sexism