The Eyes by Don Patterson

The Eyes

Don Patterson

These stunning poems, combining lyrical beauty with profound philosophical thought, are very loose translations or 'versions' of the work of the Spanish poet, Antonio Machado. Don Patterson is one of our leading contemporary poets and these meditative musings on life, love, memory and God are among his best yet.

Extract

My advice? To watch and wait for the tide to turn -
wait as the beached boat waits, without a thought
for either its own waiting, or departure.
As I put it so well myself: 'The patient triumph
since life is long, and art merely a toy'.

from Advice