The sun has burst the sky
Because I love you
And the river its banks.

The sea laps the great rocks
Because I love you
And takes no heed of the moon dragging it away
And saying coldly ‘Constancy is not for you’.

The blackbird fills the air
Because I love you.
With spring and lawns and shadows falling on lawns.

The people walk in the street and laugh
I love you
And far down the river ships sound their hooters
Crazy with joy because I love you.

by Jenny Joseph

© Jenny Joseph, 2009

Nothing Like Love (Enitharmon, 2009), from which this poem is taken, is a brilliant new collection from Jenny Joseph that brings together a number of her early and previously uncollected love poems. A prolific and wide-ranging writer in prose and verse, Joseph is best known for ‘Warning’, a dramatic monologue about ageing. Joyous and bright, ‘The Sun Has Burst The Sky’ showcases her aptitude for love poetry, its seemingly simple sentiments made fresh and vibrant through deft composition. Find out more about the book here. You can hear her read ‘The Sun Has Burst The Sky’ and other poems at this site.

Enitharmon Press takes its name from a William Blake character who represents spiritual beauty and poetic inspiration. Founded in 1967 with an emphasis on independence and quality, Enitharmon has been associated with such figures as Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter and Kathleen Raine. Enitharmon also commissions internationally renowned collaborations between artists, including Gilbert & George, and poets, including Seamus Heaney, under the Enitharmon Editions imprint. Discover more about Enitharmon here.

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