Leda (by H.D.)
H.D. in the 1910s
Leda
by Hilda Doolittle
[from Hymen (Henry Holt and Company, 1921)]
Where the slow river
meets the tide,
a red swan lifts red wings
and darker beak,
and underneath the purple down
of his soft breast
uncurls his coral feet.
Through the deep purple
of the dying heat
of sun and mist,
the level ray of sun-beam
has caressed
the lily with dark breast,
and flecked with richer gold
its golden crest.
Where the slow lifting
of the tide,
floats into the river
and slowly drifts
among the reeds,
and lifts the yellow flags,
he floats
where tide and river meet.
Ah kingly kiss–
no more regret
nor old deep memories
to mar the bliss;
where the low sedge is thick,
the gold day-lily
outspreads and rests
beneath soft fluttering
of red swan wings
and the warm quivering
of the red swan's breast.
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Posted by Jesus Crisis at 1/7/2010 12:11 PM 
Categories: 1900s, Writing, Doolittle (Hilda), American
Tags: American Literature Hilda Doolittle 1921 Hymen H.D. Imagist American Poetry Imagiste
Categories: 1900s, Writing, Doolittle (Hilda), American
Tags: American Literature Hilda Doolittle 1921 Hymen H.D. Imagist American Poetry Imagiste
ah.. this one is particularly pretty.. .. a red swan. I love the visual on that.
I assume all of these are from Hymen today unless stated otherwise?
I'm falling behind you know.. your mean posting so many in one day.. :-)
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Yes, today's posts are all from Hymen.
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