Hibernal
Hibernal
by Emily Wilson
White-throated sparrow
throating out
spring the winter-
spring uptaken in
tracking the
moving subject moving off toward its lone
demolition compound
lumened limit
something human
reaching it
would not be reached
sprung, strung
subsumed
the forb in-wielding what
it wields
deep rebounding strain
incurrent colors in the grain
broken through
one-two, one-two
let into
zones of a
strident radiation
I want to understand this, but it’s difficult. The white-throated sparrow is a spring migrant, and I’m thinking “its lone demolition compound” may be winter’s last remnant of snow still emitting, by the sun perhaps, “strident radiation.” The “forb” and “grain” elude to the vegetation to come, but the grain could also be in the snow. The transition from winter to spring–the sequence of “one-two, one-two”–is either reachable or unreachable by humans; yet the poet is trying to capture it. Not quite reaching me.
Reminds me of mowing the lawn. Not sure why. Takes place outdoors….spring time. Other words related. Yeah…this is about yardwork. Seems like.