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 heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thick-set fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these,
Because my love is come to me.
Raise me a daïs of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.
The photo is not of my apple tree, but one of the young trees in my neighbor’s orchard. I do have ancient apple trees in the fields around my house which are bearing heavily this year. They are not so beautiful, but they are edible and useful.
This is my first Muse Day post. I have enjoyed so many of the verses from other bloggers that I am glad to finally have something to share.
Lovely poem. Thanks so much for your contribution to Muse Day.
This is a wonderful blog and I enjoyed looking back through your many post. Was scared to death of that spider–love your stove–and have laid those rock so I know that was back breaking. I also read your accomplishments and am impressed. It’s so nice to be in your garden today.
I adore Christina Rossetti’s poetry, ever since I read The Goblin Market. It fits your photo perfectly.
Carolyn Gail, I think Muse Day is such a wonderful idea and I’m inspired to think ahead.
Anna, thank you for coming to my garden. I hope you’ll return.
Nancy, spiders don’t scare me, but Goblin Market did. I’m glad you enjoyed the apple tree.