Poem 12 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
Bei Hennef is a meditative and reflective poem by D.H. Lawrence that captures the tranquillity of twilight and the peaceful realization of love. In this short, yet powerful poem, Lawrence writes about the soft stillness of the evening and how it brings clarity to his emotions. The quiet of nature mirrors the quiet discovery of deeper feelings that emerge after the distractions of daily life fall away.
D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930) was an English writer and poet known for his explorations of emotional and psychological experiences. His works often focus on the complexity of relationships, both with other people and with the natural world.
Bei Hennef — D.H. Lawrence
The little river twittering in the twilight,
The wan, wondering look of the pale sky,
This is almost bliss.
And everything shut up and gone to sleep,
All the troubles and anxieties and pain
Gone under the twilight.
Only the twilight now, and the soft “Sh!” of the river
That will last forever.
And at last I know my love for you is here,
I can see it all, it is whole like the twilight,
It is large, so large, I could not see it before
Because of the little lights and flickers and interruptions,
Troubles, anxieties, and pains.
You are the call and I am the answer,
You are the wish, and I the fulfilment,
You are the night, and I the day.
What else—it is perfect enough,
It is perfectly complete,
You and I.
Strange, how we suffer in spite of this!
My Reflections on the Poem:
Bei Hennef is one of those poems that invites quiet contemplation. The way Lawrence captures the peacefulness of twilight and the gradual realization of love is both moving and profound. As I recorded this poem, I felt a sense of stillness, as though Lawrence’s words were gently guiding me through a moment of calm introspection.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
