The Lost Heifer - A poem by Austin Clarke


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Austin Clarke - The Lost Heifer

When the black herds of the rain were grazing,
In the gap of the pure cold wind
And the watery hazes of the hazel
Brought her into my mind,
I thought of the last honey by the water
That no hive can find.

Brightness was drenching through the branches
When she wandered again,
Turning sliver out of dark grasses
Where the skylark had lain,
And her voice coming softly over the meadow
Was the mist becoming rain.

Added: on January 17th, 2006 at 5:42 AM | Viewed: 1533 times | Comments (2)

The Lost Heifer - Comments and Information
Poet: Austin Clarke Poem: The Lost Heifer Poem of the Day on: Jan 17 2006 Comment 2 of 2, added on May 17th, 2006 at 6:08 AM. Well, teh poem is about the Irish civil war about the obscuring of the ideals that drove the war of independence against the british - " the mist becoming rain" brother fighting brother. The Heifer is a symbol of Ireland and not an incidental one, it goes back to ancient celtic times as does the deliberate use of assonance throughout -long vowel sounds which mimic the sound and lyricism of the irish language, to evoke the sound of the wind in the pass, the desolation of irelands struggle for freedom , not the "Silky kine of ireland" DAWN - if that is your REAL name. sean from Ireland Comment 1 of 2, added on January 17th, 2006 at 5:42 AM. What a lovely poem, evoking the themes of the misty, rainy weather of Ireland, the metaphors of landscape chiming with the theme, the silky kine of Ireland. Each word so carefully chosen, to read this aloud is almost to sing. Dawn from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Lost Heifer, has received 2 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Austin Clarke with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
The Lost Heifer Last read: 2010-03-16 23:23:46 Poem of the Day on: Jan 17 2006 Viewed 1533 times. Added on January 17th, 2006 at 5:42 AM.

Clarke Info
Biography More Poems (3 poems) Books