Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether summer clothe the general earth
With greeness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.



Tuesday, March 31, 2009

April


April's Charms

When April scatters charms of primrose gold
Among the copper leaves in thickets old,
And singing skylarks from the meadows rise,
To twinkle like black stars in sunny skies;





When I can hear the small woodpecker ring
Time on a tree for all the birds that sing;
And hear the pleasant cuckoo, loud and long --
The simple bird that thinks two notes a song;





When I can hear the woodland brook, that could
Not drown a babe, with all his threatening mood;
Upon these banks the violets make their home,
And let a few small strawberry blossoms come:





When I go forth on such a pleasant day,
One breath outdoors takes all my cares away;
It goes like heavy smoke, when flames take hold
Of wood that's green and fill a grate with gold.

William Henry Davies

15 comments:

Gretel said...

Hear hear, what a lovely poem - it really is spring at last!

Anonymous said...

Lovely Poem Rowan. I was looking also at your old family photos. You are so much like your Mum. I similarly wish I had some old photos of my family. A lot of people just didn't take them in those days or didn't have a camera available.

nita x said...

rowan that is a lovely poem, and the pictures gorgeous really spring time :o)

Grizz………… said...

I enjoyed the Davies poem, Rowan, and especially loved your photos which fit so well.

Is that celandine in the bottom shot?

Rowan said...

Scribe - yes, it is celandine growing in nearby woodland.
Roy, you are right about me favouring my mum, the older I get the more like her I am.

OhSoVintage said...

I am not familiar with that poem but I enjoyed reading it along with your lovely photos.

Thimbleanna said...

Such a very pretty poem Rowan. And beautiful pictures too. I can hardly wait for spring to arrive this year!

Unknown said...

Hello Rowan,

Definitely, a beautiful Spring poem. Let's hope it has now arrived to stay!

I can honestly say, that even though your playlist always begins with the same piece, I never tire of it!

Sal said...

Very lovely!
My favourite time of the year ;-)

Diane said...

Hi Rowan, Just wanted to say hi. Found you via "Corners of my mind". What an interesting lady you are and a Virgoan like me too!! Practically perfect in every way (!!!) I noticed you went to Padley Gorge - we love it there. The kids call it "The chip butty walk" on account of the massive chip butties from the old railway station cafe. Its one of their favorite walks. Beautiful blog.

Rosie said...

Lovely, Rowan - the words of the poem and the photos go together so well - such a peaceful place to be this morning:)

Unknown said...

Hello Rowan,

Just popped in to listen to what you have moved up the charts! Greensleeves is OK too!

PAT said...

Beautiful words and photos, Rowan. I'm happy to see April arrive!!

Wanda..... said...

First time here and enjoyed the poems and photos so much...will be following Rowan!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Hi Rowan - thanks for visiting me - amd paying a return call. My father was a great WH Davies fan and it is a long time since I read any of his poetry - really enjoyed that poem and thought you had chosen very apt photographs to illustrate it. If you know the infamous A66, may be we do not live so very far apart. Call and see me again.