Then an old man came down out of the thicket,
with an axe on his shoulder, and with him
two people made out of light
—one a blameless son,
the other like a Vermeer girl,
on their way back down with the old man.
Still, all the history of the world
happens at once: In the rain, a young man
holds out a blue cloth
to caress her head
at the landing-pier
of the new bride.
You can’t get beauty. (Still,
in its longing it flies to you.)
Jean Valentine (1934–2020) was an acclaimed American poet known for her distinctive and poignant verse. Born in Chicago, Valentine’s poetry is celebrated for its lyrical precision and exploration of themes such as memory, intimacy, and the human psyche. Her notable collections include The River at Night (1977) and Dream Barker (2007), which reflect her profound engagement with personal and existential questions. Valentine’s work is characterized by its spare, evocative language and deep emotional resonance. Throughout her career, she received numerous accolades, including the National Book Award for Poetry in 2004 for Door in the Mountain.