Friday, January 20, 2012

"Saint Agnes' Eve.....




~Ah, bitter chill it was!
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in woolly fold:
Numb were the beadsman's fingers, while he told
His rosary, and while his frosted breath,
Like pious incense from a censer old,
Seem'd taking flight for heaven, without a death,
Past the sweet Virgin's picture, while his prayer he saith."



~from The Eve of St Agnes,
by John Keats

2 comments:

Cynthia Berenger said...

A reverent remembrance for this dear saint. Thank you, Kate.

Cynthia

Kate said...

You are welcome Cynthia! I first read this poem in my teens, and thought it quite beautiful. It is one I find myself revisiting evey now and again.....and practically every year on St. Agnes' eve...

~Kate