Anne Corkett

Anne Corkett is a Canadian poet who has authored the collections: Between Seasons (Borealis,1981), The Salamander’s Laughter (Dundurn, 1985), and Summertown (St. Thomas Poetry Series, 1999). She lives in Orangeville, Ontario.

While in high school one of her friends was a niece of Margaret Avison. According to David A. Kent’s new Avison biography, Optic Heart (St. Thomas Poetry Series, 2026), “Corkett first met Avison while she was studying for her undergraduate degree at York [University], and over the next many years Avison acted as a counselor, literary advisor, friend, and support to her…” They began meeting weekly for tea, and Bible study. After Anne shared a few poems she’d written about Nova Scotia, Margaret gave her a book of Elizabeth Bishop’s poems, and they began to read poetry together. For many years she corresponded with Margaret Avison; the letters Corkett received are now archived at the University of Manitoba.

The following poem first appeared in Canadian Literature (Spring 1977).

Idle

I could believe
I am water — disliking
pressure, I meander; am much
given to idle
reflection.

There is a certain
amount to be learned
from the way water
manages its shallows,
the dull resistance
of stones, the earth
readily giving way.

I could believe
I am all things did
I not lack the perfect
accord of things whose
purpose is not
to seek purpose
but to teach there is
no elemental bar to the design.

Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the author of six poetry collections including Angelicus (2021, Poiema/Cascade), plus three anthologies — available through Wipf & Stock. His new book The Role of the Moon, inspired by the Metaphysical Poets, is now available from Paraclete Press.

John Donne*

John Donne (1572―1631) is one of England’s most influential poets. In his early career Donne spent his inheritance on women and extensive travel, writing erotic poetry and satires. However, in his latter years he dedicated himself to being a priest and to writing poetry of the kingdom. He served as Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral from 1621 to 1631.

Donne is one of the two most significant poets, along with George Herbert, known as the Metaphysicals. For me these poets are of personal significance, as they have influenced me in my poetry for a long time. Most recently, my book The Role of the Moon features poems in conversation with these poets — including 19 poems inspired by each of John Donne’s 19 Holy Sonnets.

I say in the introduction to this new poetry book, “It is hardly a clear category, but Metaphysical Poets to me simply mean those who use metaphors ― sometimes elaborate, extensive metaphors known as conceits ― to talk about ideas outside of human sense perception. Because these poets were deeply dedicated to their Christian faith ― Herbert, Donne, and Traherne being Anglican priests ― much of their poetry expresses their wrestlings with God, and with their own weaknesses.”

Holy Sonnet VII

At the round earth's imagin'd corners, blow
Your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise
From death, you numberless infinities
Of souls, and to your scatter'd bodies go;
All whom the flood did, and fire shall o'erthrow,
All whom war, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies,
Despair, law, chance hath slain, and you whose eyes
Shall behold God and never taste death's woe.
But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space,
For if above all these my sins abound,
'Tis late to ask abundance of thy grace
When we are there; here on this lowly ground
Teach me how to repent; for that's as good
As if thou'hadst seal'd my pardon with thy blood.

*This is the fourth Kingdom Poets post about John Donne: first post, second post, third post.

Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the author of six poetry collections including Angelicus (2021, Poiema/Cascade), plus three anthologies — available through Wipf & Stock. His new book The Role of the Moon, inspired by the Metaphysical Poets, is now available from Paraclete Press.

Jupiter Hammon

Jupiter Hammon (1711—c.1806) is the first black person to publish a poem in North America. He was born into slavery on Long Island, New York, at the Henry Lloyd estate. The Lloyd family, whom he served his entire life, permitted him to receive a basic education, which enabled him to help them with their commercial ventures. It is believed he was given access to the estate’s library. That first poem, entitled "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries", appeared as a broadside in 1751.

Hammon served as a preacher among the other black slaves on the Lloyd estate, and was a respected part of the African-American community. He travelled with the family to Hartford, Connecticut during the Revolutionary War to dodge British invasion. The following poem was written during this time.

Somewhere on the Lloyd estate, he was buried in an unmarked grave.

An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatly

-------------------------I

O come you pious youth! adore
-----The wisdom of thy God,
In bringing thee from distant shore,
-----To learn His holy word.
------------------------------Eccles. xii.

-------------------------II

Thou mightst been left behind
-----Amidst a dark abode;
God’s tender mercy still combin’d,
-----Thou hast the holy word.
------------------------------Psal. cxxxv, 2, 3.

-------------------------III

Fair wisdom’s ways are paths of peace,
-----And they that walk therein,
Shall reap the joys that never cease,
-----And Christ shall be their king.
------------------------------Psal. i, 1,2; Prov. iii, 7.

-------------------------IV

God’s tender mercy brought thee here;
-----Tost o’er the raging main;
In Christian faith thou hast a share,
-----Worth all the gold of Spain.
------------------------------Psal. cii, 1, 3, 4.

-------------------------V

While thousands tossed by the sea,
-----And others settled down,
God’s tender mercy set thee free,
-----From dangers that come down.
------------------------------Death.

-------------------------VI

That thou a pattern still might be,
-----To youth of Boston town,
The blessed Jesus set thee free,
-----From every sinful wound.
------------------------------2 Cor. v, 10.

-------------------------VII

The blessed Jesus, who came down,
-----Unvail’d his sacred face,
To cleanse the soul of every wound,
-----And give repenting grace.
------------------------------Rom. v, 21.

-------------------------VIII

That we poor sinners may obtain,
-----The pardon of our sin;
Dear blessed Jesus now constrain,
-----And bring us flocking in.
------------------------------Psal. xxiv, 6, 7, 8.

-------------------------IX

Come you, Phillis, now aspire,
-----And seek the living God,
So step by step thou mayst go higher,
-----Till perfect in the word.
------------------------------Matth. vii, 7, 8.

-------------------------X

While thousands mov’d to distant shore,
-----And others left behind,
The blessed Jesus still adore,
-----Implant this in thy mind.
------------------------------Psal. lxxxix, 1.

-------------------------XI

Thou hast left the heathen shore;
-----Thro’ mercy of the Lord,
Among the heathen live no more,
-----Come magnify thy God.
------------------------------Psal. xxxiv, 1, 2, 3.

-------------------------XII

I pray the living God may be,
-----The shepherd of thy soul;
His tender mercies still are free,
-----His mysteries to unfold.
------------------------------Psal. lxxx, 1, 2, 3.

-------------------------XIII

Thou, Phillis, when thou hunger hast,
-----Or pantest for thy God;
Jesus Christ is thy relief,
-----Thou hast the holy word.
------------------------------Psal. xiii, 1, 2, 3.

-------------------------XIV

The bounteous mercies of the Lord,
-----Are hid beyond the sky,
And holy souls that love his word,
-----Shall taste them when they die.
------------------------------Psal. xvi, 10, 11.

-------------------------XV

These bounteous mercies are from God,
-----The merits of His Son;
The humble soul that loves His word,
-----He chooses for His own.
------------------------------Psal. xxxiv, 15.

-------------------------XVI

Come, dear Phillis, be advis’d,
-----To drink Samaria’s flood;
There nothing that shall suffice
-----But Christ’s redeeming blood.
------------------------------John iv, 13, 14.

-------------------------XVII

While thousands muse with earthly toys;
-----And range about the street,
Dear Phillis, seek for heaven’s joys,
-----Where we do hope to meet.
------------------------------Matth. vi, 33.

-------------------------XVIII

When God shall send his summons down,
-----And number saints together,
Blest angels chant, (triumphant sound),
-----Come live with me forever.
------------------------------Psal. cxvi, 15.

-------------------------XIX

The humble soul shall fly to God,
-----And leave the things of time,
Start forth as ’twere at the first word,
-----To taste things more divine.
------------------------------Matth. v, 3, 8.

-------------------------XX

Behold! the soul shall waft away,
-----Whene’er we come to die,
And leave its cottage made of clay,
-----In twinkling of an eye.
------------------------------Cor. xv, 51, 52, 53.

-------------------------XXI

Now glory be to the Most High,
-----United praises given,
By all on earth, incessantly,

-----And all the host of heav’n.
------------------------------Psal. cl, 6.

Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the author of six poetry collections including Angelicus (2021, Poiema/Cascade), plus three anthologies — available through Wipf & Stock. His new book The Role of the Moon, inspired by the Metaphysical Poets, is now available from Paraclete Press.