Tenebrae [Three First Editions, Two Signed, in Clamshell Case]

by Geoffrey Hill

Paperback

Genres: Poetry

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Sir Geoffrey William Hill was an English poet and professor emeritus of English literature and religion.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not love these as much as I expected, but I will chalk that up to me.

[HD]

“What is there in my heart that you should sue
so fiercely for its love? What kind of care
brings you as though a stranger to my door
through the long night and in the icy dew

seeking the heart that will not harbour you,
that keeps itself religiously secure?
At this dark solstice filled with frost and fire
your passion’s ancient wounds must bleed anew.

So many nights the angel of my house
has fed such urgent comfort through a dream,
whispered “your lord is coming, he is close”

that I have drowsed half-faithful for a time
bathed in pure tones of promise and remorse:
“tomorrow I shall wake to welcome him.”

[Douglas Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something about this one brought on the notion of, "I'm encountering greatness here."

[Nick Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

incomprehensible but beautiful