WS Merwin, Robert Graves and Rainer Maria Rilke explore the Wheel of the world, where there is no wheel. Broadcast LIVE Wednesdays, 10 AM on https://player.enlightenradio.org Hosts: Janet Harrison, John Case This Episode Recorded 12/06/2023
The Subject is Poetry
by HS Merwin
On the Subject of Poetry
I do not understand the world, Father.
By the millpond at the end of the garden
There is a man who slouches listening
To the wheel revolving in the stream, only
There is no wheel there to revolve.
He sits in the end of March, but he sits also
In the end of the garden; his hands are in
His pockets. It is not expectation
On which he is intent, nor yesterday
To which he listens. It is a wheel turning.
When I speak, Father, it is the world
That I must mention. He does not move
His feet nor so much as raise his head
For fear he should disturb the sound he hears
Like a pain without a cry, where he listens.
I do not think I am fond, Father,
Of the way in which always before he listens
He prepares himself by listening. It is
Unequal, Father, like the reason
For which the wheel turns, though there is no wheel.
I speak of him, Father, because he is
There with his hands in his pockets, in the end
Of the garden listening to the turning
Wheel that is not there, but it is the world,
Father, that I do not understand.
–W. S. Merwin, from his book The Dancing Bears
Our Blog Our Player Our Podcasts
questions, comments: jcase4218@gmail.com
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: March 6: She Prevailed
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: February 27: Celebrating Black History Month
Enlighten Radio:The Storytelling Hour: February 20: Story Endings - They Don’t Always Live Happily Ever After
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: February 13: True or False: Clothes Make the Man
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: February 6: Choices - Good and Bad
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 30: Reunions - People, Place and Purpose
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 23: Reunions- Memorable Persons and Food Experiences
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 16: Cold Weather Fun
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 9: Tales of Treasure, Love & Loss
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 2: New Adventures
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 26: Holiday Stories
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 19: Weather Stories
EnlightenRadio: The Storytelling Hour: December 12: Celebrations
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 5: Changes
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: November 28:What Delights You?
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: November 21: The Strangest Story
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: November 7: Animal Adventures
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 31: Scary Stories
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 24: Early Experiences with Storytelling
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 17: Beloved Teachers, Coaches and Mentors
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Dairyland Frights
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL