English poetry

Poems in English


Home ⇒ 💗Geoffrey Hill ⇒ Mercian Hymns I

Mercian Hymns I

King of the perennial holly-groves, the riven sandstone: overlord of the
M5: architect of the historic rampart and ditch, the citadel at
Tamworth, the summer hermitage in Holy Cross: guardian of the Welsh
Bridge and the Iron Bridge: contractor to the desirable new estates:
Saltmaster: money-changer: commissioner for oaths: martyrologist: the
Friend of Charlemagne.

‘I liked that,’ said Offa, ‘sing it again.’


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Related poetry:

  1. Mercian Hymns XVII He drove at evening through the hushed Vosges. The car radio, Glimmering, received broken utterance from the horizon of storms… […]...

  2. Mercian Hymns VII Gasholders, russet among fields. Milldams, marlpools that lay Unstirring. Eel-swarms. Coagulations of frogs: once, with branches and Half-bricks, he battered […]...

  3. Mercian Hymns XXV Brooding on the eightieth letter of Fors Clavigera, I speak this in Memory of my grandmother, whose childhood and prime […]...

  4. Night Hymns on Lake Nipigon Here in the midnight, where the dark mainland and island Shadows mingle in shadow deeper, profounder, Sing we the hymns […]...

  5. Adam Weirauch I was crushed between Altgeld and Armour. I lost many friends, much time and money Fighting for Altgeld whom Editor […]...

  6. Hymns Of The Marshes I. Sunrise. In my sleep I was fain of their fellowship, fain Of the live-oak, the marsh, and the main. […]...

  7. For Him I Sing FOR him I sing, (As some perennial tree, out of its roots, the present on the past:) With time and […]...

  8. Cold Iron Cold is for the mistress silver for the maid Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.” “Good!” said the […]...

  9. Money When I had money, money, O! I knew no joy till I went poor; For many a false man as […]...

  10. Marsh Hymns Between Dawn and Sunrise. Were silver pink, and had a soul, Which soul were shy, which shyness might A visible […]...

  11. Sonnet CLII In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn, But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing, In act thy […]...

  12. Sonnet 152: In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn, But thou art twice forsworn to me love swearing: In act thy […]...

  13. AUTUMN Thou comest, Autumn, heralded by the rain, With banners, by great gales incessant fanned, Brighter than brightest silks of Samarcand, […]...

  14. The Iron Bridge I am standing on a disused iron bridge That was erected in 1902, According to the iron plaque bolted into […]...

  15. 274. Song-Carle, an' the King come Chorus.-Carle, an the King come, Carle, an the King come, Thou shalt dance and I will sing, Carle, an the […]...

  16. A GENERAL SUMMARY We are very slightly changed From the semi-apes who ranged India’s Prehistoric clay; He that drew the longest bow Ran […]...

  17. Antiphon (I) Chorus: Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing ‘My God and King.’ Verse: The heav’ns are not too high, […]...

  18. Sing All Ye People! Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor, For the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever, And the […]...

  19. A Welsh Testament All right, I was Welsh. Does it matter? I spoke a tongue that was passed on To me in the […]...

  20. If I Were King I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything. If only I were King of Spain, […]...

Poem Mercian Hymns I - Geoffrey Hill
« 
 »