"To earthward"

this is not a new lyric, or even my lyric, but several years ago i wrote a guitar progression that found its way to this poem by robert frost. i literally picked up a poetry anthology at the end of an hour or so of picking the tune over and over, a process that is common for me, and the match of mood and phrasing was a perfect fit. such magic is life.

i have never recorded the song to my satisfaction and plan to on this new album project. plus last evening i had a brush with the beauty and fragility of life, so am feeling my mortality this morning to an acute degree. here's the poem:


To Earthward
by: Robert Frost

Love at the lips was touch
As sweet as I could bear;
And once that seemed too much;
I lived on air
That crossed me from sweet things,
The flow of- was it musk
From hidden grapevine springs
Down hill at dusk?

I had the swirl and ache
From sprays of honeysuckle
That when they're gathered shake
Dew on the knuckle.
I craved strong sweets, but those
Seemed strong when I was young;
The petal of the rose
It was that stung.

Now no joy but lacks salt
That is not dashed with pain
And weariness and fault;
I crave the stain
Of tears, the aftermark
Of almost too much love,
The sweet of bitter bark
And burning clove.

When stiff and sore and scarred
I take away my hand
From leaning on it hard
In grass and sand,
The hurt is not enough:
I long for weight and strength
To feel the earth as rough
To all my length.

From "New Hampshire", 1923