Love Poem & Ferns - Robert Bly

When we are in love, we love the grass

I am really digging Robert Bly’s poetry. I was just perusing his Collected Poems last month and finding so many moments of resonance and awe. I hope you’ll like these two short pieces I’m sharing today.

I, too, have written poetry about ferns. I have a fern tattoo. I’m curious to know if any of you poets who may be reading have also written about ferns. Are ferns universally compelling? We know love is.

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Love Poem
by Robert Bly in Collected Poems

When we are in love, we love the grass,
And the barns, and the lightpoles,
And the small mainstreets abandoned all night.

Ferns
by Robert Bly in Collected Poems

It was among ferns I learned about eternity.
Below your belly there is a curly place.
Through you I learned to love the ferns on the bank,
and the curve the deer’s hoof leaves in the sand.

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I’d love to hear from you. I want to know what you think. Did you like these poems? Did any part of it resonate with you? Let me know.