A.R. Ammons – Eyesight
As far as topics often addressed by Ammons, those of religious and philosophical concern are visited in his works as are many scenes involving nature, almost in a Transcendental fashion.
According to Daniel Hoffman, who wrote a book review on Ammons, stated that his work “is founded on an implied Emersonian division of experience into Nature and the Soul,” adding that it “sometimes consciously echo[es] familiar lines from Emerson, Whitman and [Emily] Dickinson. (From Wikipedia)
Eyesight by A.R. Ammons
It was May before my
attention came
to spring and
my word I said
to the southern slopes
I’ve
missed it, it
came and went before
I got right to see:
don’t worry, said the mountain,
try the later northern slopes
or if
you can climb, climb
into spring: but
said the mountain
it’s not that way
with all things, some
that go are gone
– A.R. Ammons (The Selected Poems 1951-1977)
Date: July 29, 2011
Categories: A.R. Ammons
