At 8:07 AM +0000 12/29/02, Wild Honey Press wrote:
>Fancy talking about a poem? One you have feelings about, for or against?
>What? Why?
This is one of my all-time favourites, by that fine poet Anonymous.
I can't remember when I first read it. This poem gets me every time,
for its sheer grace.
I was looking at some wooden mediaeval carvings of Madonna and child
at the Musee de Cluny in Paris recently; it struck me very strongly
that among the swarming masses of human figures I looked at that day
(I hadn't realised Mediaeval art was so _populous_), the Madonna and
child were the only ones smiling. All the others seemed uniformly
glum; unless they were tormented or wicked.
I syng of a mayden that is makeless
King of alle kinges to here son she ches.
He came also stylle ther his moder was,
As dew in Aprylle that falleth on the gras.
He cam also stylle to his moderes bowr
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the flour.
He cam also stille ther his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the spray.
Moder and mayden was never non but she -
Wel may swych a lady Godes moder be!
--
Alison Croggon
Home page
http://www.users.bigpond.com/acroggon/
Masthead Online
http://au.geocities.com/masthead_2/
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