Arabian Shawl
by Katherine Mansfield
"It is cold outside, you will need a coat --
What! this old Arabian shawl!
Bind it about your head and throat,
These steps ... it is dark ... my hand ... you
might fall."
What has happened? What strange, sweet charm
Lingers about the Arabian shawl ...
Do not tremble so! There can be no harm
In just remembering--that is all.
"I love you so--I will be your wife,"
Here, in the dark of the Terrace wall,
Say it again. Let that other life
Fold us like the Arabian shawl.
"Do you remember?" ... "I quite forget,
Some childish foolishness, that is all,
Tonight is the first time we have met...
Let me take off my Arabian shawl!"
18 comments:
hello Jeanne:
What an enchanting poem which so perfectly matches the season in which we find ourselves. The warmth of the shawl and the warmth of a loved one close by, now what could be better. And, just a hint of the exotic with the Arabian shawl. Perhaps a hint of cinnamon in the cup of hot chocolate is what is called for tonight as we arm ourselves by the fire?!!
You always manage to illustrate the poems you post with the most appropriate pictures.
Feeling the poem's echo, and loving the autumn beech-leaf rust of that shawl, no, not just loving it, COVETING it!
Beautiful poom...i like the shawl...enjoy a happy weekend....xxx
Simply lovely post.
Wonderful! :) I love it when you share all these treasures with us. :)
Enjoy the weekend!
Lotta
xx
Beautiful. She was only in her early 30s when she died wasn't she, think what else she might have written if she'd lived!
Wow I love that shawl, just the colours I have chosen at Hillside.
I love spice colours.
Is it yours Jeanne?
I have never heard this peom before - intriguing!
Lovely shawl,Katherine Mansfield had a complicated relationship with John Middleton Murray was this poem part of it? lol Angela
Jeanne,
I've struggled to leave comments on your recent post here and the John Clare poem. Here's third time lucky. I love this poem. It is an old favourite. In my previous (unpublished) comment I was suggesting Elizabeth Taylor or Barbara Pym...let's hope this comment gets through this time!
What a lovely poem about an unusual item.;) Love the image too, hope you have had a lovely weekend.;))
xoxo
Jeanne - What a marvellous poem - love the shawl - have a great week - looking forword to hear from you again, Inge
Dearest Jeanne,
Early season bronchitis (for the first time in decades) has made me a little late to this party but what a charming party it is. When I first saw that shawl I was reminded of Rosie Thomas's latest wonderful novel 'The Kashmir Shawl'. Have you read it? I love Mansfield's short stories and this week I shall be knitting with some divine Mansfield Garden Party yarn from Madelinetosh.
I hope you are well and happy.
Very beautiful Jeanne!!! Thank you for posting it !! I am not that good with poetry - never pick up a poetry book, not sure why...but I do enjoy it!! So THANK YOU!!
Have a good week!!!
Nicola
Beautiful poem, beautiful shawl - its colour is so autumnal and just happens to be the colour that I covet at the moment. I love shawls, wear them a lot so this post was perfect for me in every way.THANK YOU.
Just read your comment thank you.
and funnily enough Bob Dylan's lyrics have been going through my mind lately and I was going to listen to him too.
I saw your comment on Caits blog and loved this post. I have some shawls / pashminas similar to this one and wore one on my wedding day. You made me think of that beautiful day so thank you!
Aqeela xx
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