This poem is a deep, deep favorite; one I invariably mutter all spring long. For the second Wednesday of spring, Gerard Manley Hopkins:
Nothing is so beautiful as Spring--
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightenings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden.--Have, get before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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4 maids a-milking:
Wow- "all this juice and all this joy!" Beautiful- juicy and joyful!
Just beautiful! I went to an old prep school in New England and although it had its problems they had a wonderful tradition of holding a chapel service outside in the spring. The whole school would congregate in the dappled morning light beside the pond and read Gerard Manley Hopkins' "Pied Beauty," and I have such wonderful memories of those readings. He's certainly my favorite Romantic. Love to you, darling Amanda- I can sense you're thrilled about spring!
"shoot long, and lovely, and lush"
how beatiful!
@Lila @Emily: Those are my favorite bits.
@Lily: What a wonderful ritual. I may have to take it on. (As though I don't regularly mumble that one to myself.)
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