We're in full spring mode here in Los Angeles--blossoms everywhere, allergic noses running, blue sky above. Wait, the blue sky is here every season.
Took a picture of my neighbor's tree, which is in full bloom. I don't know anything about this particular tree, except that it supposedly hails from Australia, and the flowers smell really nice.
Spring
by 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 lightnings 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.
I love the line "What is all this juice and all this joy?", don't you?
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7 comments:
Beautiful poem. The world does seem brand new and clean in the spring. And juicy and joyful.
glad you like it, booklogged...love your blog, by the way! :)
I've only read a few of his poems but there is something so musical about them don't you think? I prefer to read poems out loud but for his it feels like it ought to be required! :) Love the poem -thank you for posting it.
I love the little I know of his work. You're absolutely right, his work is musical, and he needs to be read aloud! The first one I ever read of his was called "Spring and Fall; to a young child", and it makes all the difference when you read it aloud...
btw, I was replying to you, iliana...forgot to say it! :)
I love Hopkins! One of my favorites is "Spring and Fall" which makes a good companion to this one. One of my favorite lines is "Glory be to God for dappled things" which was what I would tell my daughter when she bemoaned her freckles.
Jenclair! You've mentioned my absolute favorite Hopkins poem. "Spring and Fall" is such a beautiful poem about decay--so poignant.
I will keep that quote in mind for when my daughter's freckles show up!
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