Friday, March 20, 2009

First Day of Spring


Today the first day of Spring has finally arrived. The sun is shining, but it is cold here in Connecticut, we even had some snow this morning. Spring is my favorite season of the year, because everything emerges from its long winter sleep. This year it has been a very long, very cold and very snowy Winter. Wishing all a healthy and happy Spring. I hope you find one of the following works of poetry pleasing.

A Prayer in Spring Robert Frost (1915)

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.


Lines Written in Early Spring William Wordsworth (1798)

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:--
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?


812 Emily Dickinson

A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period —
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay —

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do like your new- look blog Dakota :)

I love Spring too- all that budding, it is quite intoxicating! I like the idea in Wordsworth's poem that 'every flower enjoys the air it breathes'.

Thanks for these!

Dakota Bear said...

Cinnamon-Happy Spring to you! I thought I would try a new look for a little while.

Joanne said...

What an inspiration, the poetry itself is like spring, full of life, filled with energy. Happy Spring to you!

Dakota Bear said...

Joanne-Happy Spring! I pray we have warm weather tomorrow, so I can get out and enjoy Spring.

CocoDivaDog said...

good morning Dak Bear,
Your flowers are up already? My crocus are still struggling to break free of the soil.
You must have more sun in your garden.
Love the new look on your blog.
I'm thinking of giving my blogs a face-lift too.

Feisty Crone said...

Wonderful poems, and I'm so glad spring is finally here!

Happy Spring to you!

Dakota Bear said...

Auntie-that is a picture of some of the daffodils taken last Spring, like you I'm still waiting for this years display, but I wanted a nice Springy picture.

Gran-Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I like the Wordsworth the best! Nice rememberance of the first day of Spring, DB. And stop on over, when you can. I've left you a Thank You :)

Dakota Bear said...

Subtorp77-Thank you for the thank you, pray your Mom is improving with each day.

Anonymous said...

DB your most welcome :)Take care!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Spring! All great things come forth in the spring. Oh that's right I was born in the Spring!!!!

Dakota Bear said...

Debo-it wasn't quite Spring, but close enough.

Tess Kincaid said...

Happy Spring! I like your fresh new look.

Dakota Bear said...

Willow-Thank you! I just wished the weather was warmer. It is in the 20-30s here in CT.

Ruth said...

That spring light!

Thank you for reminding of the spring poems. As Frost said, let's enjoy it while it's here.

Dakota Bear said...

Ruth-Today it is Spring sunny and the windows are open to let in the fresh smell. It just puts a smile on my face each time I see the flowers starting to bloom. I enjoy every minute of it even though I have to take antihistamines.