Earth Took of Earth

by Darlene Frank on January 27, 2014

Darlene Frank, creativity coach for writers. Image related to "Earth Took of Earth" poem.I can’t predict your reaction to the poem below, but I’m certain you’ll read it more than once.

Translated from Middle English, this poem opens the anthology Earth Took of Earth: 100 Great Poems of the English Language.

With each reading, silently or aloud, the rhythm, repetition, and mystery of these four lines move me into a deep, creative space. Anthology editor Jorie Graham chose poems that felt indispensable to her. This poem has become one of my favorites.

What does the poem evoke in you? How and where does mystery enter into the language of your own writing? Feel free to share your comments.

Earth Took of Earth

Earth took of earth earth with ill;
Earth other earth gave earth with a will.
Earth laid earth in the earth stock-still:
Then earth in earth had of earth its fill.

~Anonymous
(ca 1000, United Kingdom)

 

Photo credit: Labyrinth and Sky, © 2011 by Doug Baird.


Darlene Frank is a writer, editor and creativity coach who helps writers gain creative confidence and fulfill their artistic vision and dreams. She works with nonfiction authors especially in the self-help and memoir genres and with writers who have undergone a radical life transformation and want to create art from that experience. Her creative nonfiction has been published in several anthologies. Please contact her if you wish to republish this article in any form.

 

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