Poem for Wednesday, Cherry Blossoms and Bluebells

The Bluebell
By Anne Brontë

A fine and subtle spirit dwells
In every little flower,
Each one its own sweet feeling breathes
With more or less of power.
There is a silent eloquence
In every wild bluebell
That fills my softened heart with bliss
That words could never tell.

Yet I recall not long ago
A bright and sunny day,
'Twas when I led a toilsome life
So many leagues away;

That day along a sunny road
All carelessly I strayed,
Between two banks where smiling flowers
Their varied hues displayed.

Before me rose a lofty hill,
Behind me lay the sea,
My heart was not so heavy then
As it was wont to be.

Less harassed than at other times
I saw the scene was fair,
And spoke and laughed to those around,
As if I knew no care.

But when I looked upon the bank
My wandering glances fell
Upon a little trembling flower,
A single sweet bluebell.

Whence came that rising in my throat,
That dimness in my eye?
Why did those burning drops distil —
Those bitter feelings rise?

O, that lone flower recalled to me
My happy childhood's hours
When bluebells seemed like fairy gifts
A prize among the flowers,

Those sunny days of merriment
When heart and soul were free,
And when I dwelt with kindred hearts
That loved and cared for me.

I had not then mid heartless crowds
To spend a thankless life
In seeking after others' weal
With anxious toil and strife. 

'Sad wanderer, weep those blissful times
That never may return!'
The lovely floweret seemed to say,
And thus it made me mourn.

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Tuesday felt like summer! The forecast had said rain, but the rain finished in the morning, so after lunch we went to Kenwood to see what was left of the cherry blossoms there. There was quite a bit of green among the fading flowers and it snowed petals whenever there was a breeze, but it was still very pretty and lots of tulips were opening. Since we figured it was also our last chance to see the Potomac River bluebells, we went from there to the C&O Canal towpath to see the flowers between the lock and the river, plus the redbuds along the way:

















Maddy spent nearly the entire day at the mall, first training for her new job at California Pizza Kitchen, then hanging out with friends from Arclight, and ultimately going to the movies, so we stopped at the Bethesda Co-op without her and had marsala for dinner. Afterward we caught up on the two episodes of The 100 we'd missed (which were okay, but there wasn't nearly enough Marcus/Abby and some of the medical decisions were utterly horrifying). I am frustrated Klepper is getting Wilmore's slot and @midnight is moving back to its titular slot!