By William Wordsworth
Pansies, Lilies, Kingcups, Daisies,
Let them live upon their praises;
Long as there's a sun that sets
Primroses will have their glory;
Long as there are Violets,
They will have a place in story:
There's a flower that shall be mine,
'Tis the little Celandine.
Eyes of some men travel far
For the finding of a star;
Up and down the heavens they go,
Men that keep a mighty rout!
I'm as great as they, I trow,
Since the day I found thee out,
Little flower!--I'll make a stir
Like a great Astronomer.
Modest, yet withal an Elf
Bold, and lavish of thyself,
Since we needs must first have met
I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
'Twas a face I did not know;
Thou hast now, go where I may,
Fifty greetings in a day.
Ere a leaf is on a bush,
In the time before the Thrush
Has a thought about it's nest,
Thou wilt come with half a call,
Spreading out thy glossy breast
Like a careless Prodigal;
Telling tales about the sun,
When we've little warmth, or none.
Poets, vain men in their mood!
Travel with the multitude;
Never heed them; I aver
That they all are wanton Wooers;
But the thrifty Cottager,
Who stirs little out of doors,
Joys to spy thee near her home,
Spring is coming, Thou art come!
Comfort have thou of thy merit,
Kindly, unassuming Spirit!
Careless of thy neighbourhood,
Thou dost shew thy pleasant face
On the moor, and in the wood.
In the lane--there's not a place,
Howsoever mean it be,
But 'tis good enough for thee.
Ill befal the yellow Flowers,
Children of the flaring hours!
Buttercups, that will be seen,
Whether we will see or no;
Others, too, of lofty mien;
They have done as worldlings do,
Taken praise that should be thine,
Little, humble Celandine!
Prophet of delight and mirth,
Scorn'd and slighted upon earth!
Herald of a mighty band,
Of a joyous train ensuing,
Singing at my heart's command,
In the lanes my thoughts pursuing,
I will sing, as doth behove,
Hymns in praise of what I love!
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My leap day involved lots of rain and cats on vents and folding laundry and being aggravated by various people making various demands. I feel like my stress tolerance has dropped to zero, like I have some kind of passive-aggressive PTSD all of a sudden. In happier news, Amazon sent me a gift certificate and I promptly ordered the miniseries versions of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, which will be here at the end of the week.
Adam brought his girlfriend home from school with him and they went out to take photos of crocuses in the rain, then cleaned his room extensively since he needs more room for his camera equipment and stuff. Evening included three episodes of Wild Indonesia on public television and discussing CIA internships with older son (anyone in the MD/DC area looking to hire a college engineering sophomore for the summer?). Longwood Gardens conservatory last weekend:
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