from "The Great Lover" by Rupert Brooke.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

from The Great Lover
Rupert Brooke

These I have loved:
White plates and cups, clean-gleaming,
Ringed with blue lines; and feathery, faery dust;
Wet roofs, beneath the lamp-light; the strong crust
Of friendly bread; and many-tasting food;
Rainbows; and the blue bitter smoke of wood;
And radiant raindrops couching in cool flowers;
And flowers themselves, that sway through sunny hours,
Dreaming of moths that drink them under the moon;
Then, the cool kindliness of sheets, that soon
Smooth away trouble; and the rough male kiss
Of blankets; grainy wood; live hair that is
Shining and free; blue-massing clouds; the keen
Unpassioned beauty of a great machine;
The benison of hot water; furs to touch;
The good smell of old clothes; and other such --
The comfortable smell of friendly fingers,
Hair's fragrance, and the musty reek that lingers
About dead leaves and last year's ferns. . . .
Dear names,
And thousand other throng to me! Royal flames;
Sweet water's dimpling laugh from tap or spring;
Holes in the ground; and voices that do sing;
Voices in laughter, too; and body's pain,
Soon turned to peace; and the deep-panting train;
Firm sands; the little dulling edge of foam
That browns and dwindles as the wave goes home;
And washen stones, gay for an hour; the cold
Graveness of iron; moist black earthen mould;
Sleep; and high places; footprints in the dew;
And oaks; and brown horse-chestnuts, glossy-new;
And new-peeled sticks; and shining pools on grass; --
All these have been my loves.

[full poem is here]
Rupert Brooke died during World War I.

Comments

[elsabeta.livejournal.com]

I used to keep a notebook of all my favourite poetry--this was one of the first I copied into it. I love the rhythm of it and his eye for details.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I adored this poem in middle school and something reminded me of it today; luckily it's stood up well. I love poetry about everyday things.

[22by7.livejournal.com]

sorry, nothing to do with the poem - i thought he died of a nasty diseaseful mozzy bite or food poisoning? o.o

[moireach.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're right! He died of blood poisoning on his way to battle. So it wasn't from a bullet but it was while he was a soldier, so I guess it depends on how you count war casualties. I'll edit it, anyway.

[22by7.livejournal.com]

that's all right, i was just about to think i'd read my sources wrong :]

oh. since this is as good a place to ask as any - mind if i add your journal? i've seen and admired it from afar.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

Sure, be my guest!

[viruswshoes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this.
I have had the desire to compose a list of "things I absolutely love" for the last week or so, and this tied in quite nicely.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I'm always fighting that urge. Lucky Brooke does it so well. :)