Sunday, April 15, 2018

Poem for Sunday and Canal Bluebells + Animals

The Bluebell
By Anne Bronte

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.

--------

Saturday felt like a glorious summer day -- the best kind, low humidity with a gorgeous breeze. After lunch (and an EX raid at Starbucks where we got frappuccinos), we went to walk along the C&O Canal to see the bluebells, which we knew from other local parks were in full bloom. They were glorious and we also got to see lots of spring animals, including frogs, turtles, ducks, songbirds, snakes, and a great many creatures appeared to be frisky from the lovely weather:

It's been a rough week for a lot of people I know; my parents lost a very longtime friend, someone I've known for decades, and tonight one of my good friends discovered that another friend of hers had passed away earlier in the day. So we ended up staying in tonight, talking to Maddy about taxes and stuff and catching up on Agents of SHIELD, which has been a fairly good distraction this year. Younger son is kayaking and camping off the grid all weekend, hopefully being careful!

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