"If we are to describe the gardener's March according to truth and old tradition we must carefully take note of two things: (a) what the gardener is supposed to do and wishes to do, and (b) what in fact he does, not being able to do more!" So spake Karel Capek in his delightful book The Gardener's Year published in 1931. No less true today. Seduced by the brilliant sun and the mild temperatures we've had for the…
Simple Gifts'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,And when we find ourselves in the place just right,'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.When true simplicity is gain'd,To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,To turn, turn will be our delight,Till by turning, turning we come round right.This little song was written by Elder Joseph Brackett at the Alfred, Maine community…
Love is Sweeping the Country lyrics by Ira GershwinWhy are people gayAll the night and day,Feeling as they never felt before?What is the thingThat makes them sing?Rich man, poor man, thief,Doctor lawyer, chief,Feel a feeling that they can't ignore!It plays a partIn ev'ry heart,And ev'ry hearts is shouting "Encore!"Love is sweeping the country!Waves are hugging the shore;All the sexesFrom Maine to TexasHave never known such love before.(Addional lyrics sometimes used)Spring is in the air-Each mortal loves his neighbor.Who's…
Sonnet 73 by William ShakespeareThat time of year thou mayst in me beholdWhen yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hangUpon those boughs which shake against the cold,Bare ruin'd choirs where late the sweet birds sang.In me thou see'st the twilight of such dayAs after sunset fadeth in the west;Which by and by black night doeth take awayDeath's second self, that seals up all in rest.In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,That on the ashes of…
Spring and FallBy Gerard Manley Hopkinsto a young childMargaret are you grievingOver Goldengrove unleaving?Leaves, like the things of man, youWith your fresh thoughts care for,Ah! As the heart grows olderIt will come to such sights colderBy and by, nor spare a sighThough worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie:And yet you will weep and know why.Now mo matter, child, the name:Sorrow’s springs are the same.Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressedWhat heart heard of, ghost guessed:It is the blight man…
Christina Rosetti was talking about love, of course, but love in a world of abundance and delight. This has been an excellent year for apples. The harvest is so good that some people have complained about branches breaking with the weight of so many apples. As I passed the trees bent low with thick set fruit, I immediately thought of this poem, A Birthday. MY heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;My…