A Milkweed
Anonymous as cherubs
Over the crib of God,
White seeds are floating
Out of my burst pod.
What power had I
Before I learned to yield?
Shatter me, great wind:
I shall possess the field
A Stone
As casual as cow-dung
Under the crib of God,
I lie where chance would have me,
Up to the ears in sod.
Why should I move? To move
Befits a light desire.
The sill of heaven would founder,
Did such as I aspire.

COMMENTS

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4 responses to “Two Voices in a Meadow – Richard Wilbur”

1. David Neff says:

   02/05/2013 at 2:42 pm

   Correction needed: The second line of “A Stone” should be “Under the crib of God,”

   Reply
2. John Behnke says:

   08/17/2017 at 9:43 am

   Correction needed: Second line in A Milkweed- should be “Over the crib of God”

   Reply
   • David Zahl says:

     08/17/2017 at 1:27 pm

     thank you! that’s embarrassing. correction made.

     Reply
3. Sterling Byassee says:

   02/25/2024 at 2:32 pm

   As I looked at the milkweed this morning on my grass I remember this poem which I learned in 1970 in college. I looked it up on Google and sure enough I found it! The line that I looked up which captured my heart was shatter me o great wind and I shall possess the field. I capitalize the word Wind because to me it represents the Spirit of God that wants to spread spread seeds of the life of Jesus throughout the whole inhabited Earth! As it indicates in John chapter 12 verse 24

   Reply