Tim
The reason that I quite seriously think that this poem:
To Be Sung On The Water
Beautiful, my delight,
Pass, as we pass the wave.
Pass, as the mottled night
Leaves what it cannot save,
Scattering dark and bright.
Beautiful, pass and be
Less than the guiltless shade
To which our vows were said;
Less than the sound of the oar
To which our vows were made,--
Less than the sound of its blade
Dipping the stream once more.
was possibly inspired whether consciously or unconsciously by Schubert's song of the same title is that there are similarities quite apart from the theme. Although the song is in triple time (6/8) it resolves into two beats of three and glides smoothly through gentle ripples. The song was rather fashionable in concerts and on gramophone records at about the same time that Louise Bogan would have written this poem.
This is one of the few truly happy poems by Bogan that I have discovered. Of course there is Roman Fountain (thanks Bobby) and the love poems are powerful.
Janet
[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited July 05, 2004).]
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