The Book of the Green Man

Then cam four grett wodyn
with four grett clumes all in grene

& with skwybes
borning -

 
by Ronald Johnson


For Jonathan & for Dorothy
who made it possible

 


Of the seasons,
seamless, a garland.

Solstice
to equinox -
days,

measured a cock's stride
come full circle.

The length of
breath,
a sequential foliage

firmly planted in
our veins,
we stand in our rayed form:

blue-eyed,
a chicory,

Sponsa Solis - & upon the sun appears
a face
also with rays

in descent
through an undulant

blue.


Part 1: Winter

Part 2: Spring

Part 3: Summer

Part 4: Autumn

Author's Notes

Pages from Ronald Johnson's Journal
for The Book of the Green Man


Paintings by Basil King based on the lore of the Green Man
accompany the seasons of this book.

Return to Light and Dust Anthology of Poetry

Copyright © 1967 by Ronald Johnson
First published by W.W. Norton
Reproduced by Permission of the Literary Estate of Ronald Johnson, 2001

Light and Dust Anthology of Poetry