Early May last year was beautiful … this year –
crumbs: well they wouldn’t stay on my plate for very long … as it is rocking
and rolling out there … and is still jolly cold …
Eastbourne Pier - on a very windy day
today 2021
 |
| 1791 illustration for Jack and Gill going up a hill (Nursery Rhyme) |
England’s weather … John Clare (1793-1864) with thispoem sort of got it right – but I don’t remember one this
cold …
The Spring comes in with all her hues and smells,
In freshness breathing over hills and dells;
O’er woods where May her gorgeous drapery flings,
And meads washed fragrant by their laughing springs.
Fresh are new opened flowers, untouched and free
From the bold rifling of the amorous bee.
The happy time of singing birds is come,
And Love’s lone pilgrimage now finds a home;
Among the mossy oaks now coos the dove,
And the hoarse crow finds softer notes for love.
The foxes play around their dens, and bark
In joy’s excess, ’mid woodland shadows dark.
The flowers join lips below; the leaves above;
And every sound that meets the ear is Love.
 |
| Carpet Gardens on Eastbourne seafront |
A year is a long time … and how much life has changed … and will continue to change …
 |
| Wall of Love (erected 2000) in Montmatre |
I rather liked this phrase – it is so appropriate for this difficult time that we’re all going through …
… we have to possess our souls
in patience
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
54 comments:
What a wondrous poem.
That carpet garden is gorgeous.
Patience...I never have enough.
Cheers.
The heat will come soon enough. It has hit here, that's for sure.
We certainly need patience!
Spring is perhaps the most fickle month. She flirts with us for quite some time before settling down.
Love that flower carpet and the poem and hope that Spring shows you her warm side soon.
Yes. Patience is necessary when going through this pandemic. Who would have thought it would last so long?
Hari OM
Indeed, I was lamenting with my siblings (up for house clearance...) that the minute we went into lockdown last year, summer arrived and stayed - right until things started to loosen off... now we have the chance to be out and about again, we are getting sub-zero temps and snow again (at least around here). Sigh...
Lovely poem - and flowers. YAM xx
@ Sandra – it is a delightful poem isn’t it – resonating our English Spring … those daisies, tulips and primroses looked magnificent … and yes – patience … I’m not that good either …
@ Alex – we’ll get warmer weather – thankfully not as hot as yours …
@ Anabel – we do need patience …
@ EC – Spring is fickle and that’s why in some-ways it’s a wonderful time of the year … especially this year …
The carpet gardens are always delightful to see … it is getting warmer …
@ Sherry – patience against so many things at the moment … certainly I didn’t think it would last this long …
@ Yam – yes … that’s the way I feel – it was wonderful last year … and now it is much worse in your neck of the woods …
Glad you enjoyed the poem and the Spring flowers …
Thanks for the visits – here’s to a better May and summer ahead … and let’s have lots of that patience … all the best - Hilary
Love your poem. Sorry it's still cold where you are. It's been warmer than usual in Michigan, and my tulips are already up.
Happy spring.
Beautiful poem, Hilary. A year sure is a long time, or used to be. Time flies right by these days, it seems. Hey, come visit me if you want to see a warm day. :) I would love some rain, if you guys don't mind sending some our way. Hugs to you.
Love the poem. Somehow it feels fitting to me that Spring is as unsettled as the world seems. "Possessing our souls in patience" is a perfect reminder for me.
Quite a grand poem and also statement. Spring is tumultuous in Texas - warm, cold, hail, tornadoes, it's just crazy. So far so good for us - we have dodged danger, but May is the "worst" month. But - it's also the nicest - reasonable temps, pretty flowers, and SO green. Let's all just hang in there and see what happens. Climate change? I do believe. My Ray does not. Yikes. Patience, indeed. Cheers, my friend - hope you warm up.
The poem is excellent. You have cold and I have heat. Why can't it be in between for both of us?
Love,
Janie
"Fresh are new opened flowers, untouched and free
From the bold rifling of the amorous bee.
The happy time of singing birds is come"
The colours, smells and sounds of spring make life worthwhile, especially if you have suffered through a tough winter. And even more so if you have suffered through a long, tough covid lockdown. Enjoying the open areas outside the house and office is a delicious experience.
The predominant weather patterns here are winter and summer, the other two last for a brief while. Before we realise they are over! Yesterday, was a crazy hot and humid day. Overcast, but it didn't rain!
My latest post: Pandemic facts and emotions
@ Natalie – many thanks … John Clare was a poet extraordinaire; it is warm in the sun … just our Arctic wind … but as it’s cold the tulips will last longer … enjoy your tulips when they show their pretty faces …
@ Liz – thank you …
@ Silvia – yes time is flying, despite all the restrictions … oh I’d love to come and visit you and enjoy a warm day – we’re still waiting (here) for some decent earth loving rain – deluges, yes … but that soaking rain – not at the moment … I know some parts of the UK that would be thrilled to send you some of their wet stuff!
@ Deborah – you’re probably right … the world is unsettled – much as all our peoples are. Thank you “possessing our souls in patience” came from a friend … something we all need in abundance now …
@ Joanne – many thanks … both seemed appropriate for ‘the now’. The weather does seem odd … but it’s always been so – just we have short lives in weather terms: a century is not long for this earth.
I agree May is a glorious month … I love travelling the lanes and byways of England at this time of year – the countryside is so pretty …
Climate change – I know we’re affecting the planet … but weather has always changed … as we can see everywhere in little old GB … after all they used to grow grapes up north in Roman times … and Pevensey Bay (1066 and all that) was much wider and deeper … and there was a land bridge across the North Sea … a lot of change. So – both of you! are right in my book. We will warm up … the sun will see to that …
@ Janie – yes … cold and hot … we’re usually in between – but for us tis the north wind blowing – it’ll go away soon I hope! Sorry about your heat …
@ Hels – that passage you’ve highlighted is just beautiful to read … the amorous bee – they are around …
While just getting out into the countryside is such a treat after the long drawn out winter – but I’ve been lucky down here … not too awful …
@ Pradeep – you sound like Canada, well Vancouver Island where I was, it was cold, and then hot … with a short hot Summer, little Spring or Autumn … and frankly a foul Winter – for someone who didn’t want to ski!!
I remember days of waiting for rain when I lived in South Africa … sweltering overcast heat – but no release.
Stay safe one and all … we at least have longer light days ahead of us, and I hope some release … but our weather at this time of year has clear air, even if that chilly wind is blustering around. Thanks for your visits - Hilary
Oh spring, always such a beautiful time of year yet such uncertain weather. It is strange to think how much as changed in a year and at the same time wondering how things will be a year from now. Patience is definitely something I could use more of. Take care and be safe my friend.
Spring is here and I want to savor each day. Covid has been and is a nightmare.
I'm back wearing gloves again, it's so cold at the moment. And that wind is terrible - a ladder fell on my single storey kitchen roof yesterday, blown from the flat roof next door. Tiles broken, and a rather shaken builder!
This spring will bloom more beautiful than last year.
Good morning Hilary: Spring is meant to tease us, I think, offering glimpses of what could be and then cruelly hurling us back to what was! But, the flowers will bloom, the birds will find mates and produce young, the rain will fall and the Earth will trundle onwards as it has always done. Patience is indeed what we need, and it helps if we can find new ways to discover anew despite the weather. The other day, while cleaning up the debris in the backyard, I raked a pile of sodden leaves left on the ground during the winter, and came across a wonderfully-hued beetle I had never seen before. A cold, blustery day was transformed in an instant into one of wonder and delight. As are you, Hilary - wonder and delight. It is ALWAYS fun, and very often instructive, to read your blog.
I love how you incorporate the ‘English’ language in your posts, Hilary, such as “jolly cold.” Possibly, living by water guarantees some windy days. Hard to imagine 1791 for “Jack and Gill” and I was not aware, spelled with a “G”. I love everything about the “Wall of love.” Thank you for sharing a fun and interesting post. Have a wonderful week. Hugs. xx
Dear Hilary,
what a lovely post about the weather and scenery and our old-time nursery rhymes.
To thank you, here is one old-timer song,
Oh, what a glorious morning, oh, what a glorious day
I have a wonderful feeling, everything is going my way
or a hug if you would prefer.
Have a nice week
Susan B.Rouchard
@ Mason – oh Spring – it is a wonderful season as you say … and I do hope next year will be more settled. Patience – thankfully I have that … you too – take care …
@ Teresa – I know it is gorgeous seeing life change around us … Covid hasn’t been kind to any of us …
@ Annalisa – I haven’t got gloves out yet – but I don’t really need them. Oh no – that ladder scenario … what a pain for the both of you … but those gusts are lethal aren’t they.
@ Diane – yes Spring will bloom on …and it is beautiful …
@ David – Spring certainly does tease us. But as you say – life is life … and all life does its thing.
Gosh that little hued beetle sounds delightful … and yes – we do find things unexpectedly … at the moment we have those extra times to spend looking and watching.
I thank you so much with your comment …
@ Erica – my wordsmithing has always been a little eccentric … yes we’re prone to the wind … but this Arctic air is across the country and it’s cold!
Thanks for noticing the G for Gill/Jill – I spotted that and wondered if anyone else would … so pleased you did – I wonder why too.
Great you picked up the Wall of Love – I’d never come across it … so felt it appropriate for this post, especially as the poem mentions love …
@ Susan – many thanks … it was an easy write up – but another I enjoyed.
Your reply is great … everything is ticking along … not exactly my way – but we’re all in that predicament now … and I’d love a hug too!!
Lovely comments … so pleased you all related to John Clare’s poem ‘A Spring Morning’ … stay safe and take care – cheers Hilary
Hi Erica - just noticed that Gill as Gill was the early spelling using the G ... before Jill became the norm. Cheers Hilary
Weather here in Canada is atrocious. It snowed last week (on the last day of April!), it was 25 degrees Celsius the week before. This week has been all rain. At least that's a bit more normal for spring.
What a delightful poem. I'm just back from a very blustery but thoroughly enjoyable walk and I feel full of the joys of Spring! I've not been along Eastbourne seafront for a year. There were no carpet gardens then but I gather from your photo they are back again. Time for a visit methinks! A lovely post Hilary.
Hi Hilary, lovely poem! And the carpet gardens in Eastbourne look very pretty. Spring has come to Southend and the gardens in the parks around the seafront are full of colour. Now we just need the sun to shine. Sarah https://irevive.online/
Words of wisdom live forever. I love writers who leave their thoughts and experiences for those who follow. Thanks for posting these today.
I love the upbeat welcoming of spring, Hilary. Lovely poem.
Mother Nature started to turn the heat up over on this corner of the world. Happy Spring!
Hi Hilary. April and May have been very odd here. We had weather in the high 20's in April and frosts in May. We had too much rain early in the year and then nothing, but it looks like we have a wet week coming up. The garden will be happy. I want to start planting everything out but I am still not convinced that we will not get another frost!!
Keep warm and stay dry. Cheers Diane
I love the poem. Thank you.
Hi, Hilary - I can completely relate to this post. I believe that we are currently experiencing similar kinds of weather. Paitience. I've never have had enough either. Hopefully we will both each have sustained warm sunshine - soon!
Wall of Love is a wonderful phrase.
Cheers,
Hi Hilary. I love the carpet gardens and the hopeful poem. Crumbs is a good word :) Hugs xx
I've never seen Jill as Gill. Interesting.
"The more you think of dying, the better you will live." -- Sounds like a pro-vaccine slogan. I like it.
I like the wall of love.
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
After the storm in the first half of the week, the weather is turning kinder... but we're still forecast a horrible wet Saturday. But next week... my app is saying a solid set of 13 or more for the week. With April showers :)
It does change, though :(
I'm wondering whether to dare planting out these potted-up seedlings or not.
@ CD – I gather the weather in Canada is awful too – and noted the snow, which we have here in Scotland. We haven’t had 25 deg C yet – and often don’t til Summer is here … but we too could do with rain.
@ Keith – I love John Clare’s poetry … and I bet your walk was blustery to put it mildly and yes … Spring is here.
Sadly – the carpet gardens weren’t up to much … but perhaps because we’re desperate for rain, and also the ‘colouration’ wasn’t thrilling – except this little pocket on show. So give visiting a few weeks … at least that’s what I’d suggest …
@ Sarah – great to see you … that pocket of the carpet gardens does look pretty … but I wasn’t much enamoured with the rest of the gardens … see my notes above.
@ Lee – words of wisdom do live for ever – I so enjoy finding new phrases I can use or suggest … at the moment we need all the help and encouragement we can get.
@ Jacqui – thank you … I too love Spring and its coming …
@ Holly – are you starting to get lots of heat … I’m glad I live in a temperate part of the world! But I could do with a little lift in temperature – next week with luck.
@ Diane – we haven’t the heat that high here … but in the sun it is definitely warmer – just that Arctic wind has been unpleasant. But now … it’s a softer south-west wind keeping the cold away. I know lots of gardeners here are anxious about the frosts – good luck for when you can plant out.
@ Olga – thank you … I just love his poetry …
@ Unknown … not sure who you are – but obviously someone I know and probably British! Like you I do hope we can get into a warmer Spring soon, and having had some of those wonderful raindrops to give the gardens a drink …
@ Sandra – the Wall of Love is that monument in Montmartre … I’d love to visit it …
@ Debby – thank you … I’m glad it’s a hopeful poem with cheery flowers. I often use ‘crumbs’ …
@ JLenni – over here we use Gill fairly often … and I’d noted the Nursery Rhyme’s spelling from 1791: strange but obviously an evolving name. I’m not sure where your sentence comes from … but that monument in Montmartre is special.
@ Jemima – gosh, we never had that storm … but they might have done on the other side of the Downs. We could definitely do with some rain in Eastbourne …
… and the weather does look to be better next week … but with hail forecast perhaps waiting a little while longer is a wise suggestion?!
Cheers to you all – thanks for visiting … I hope Spring and the rest of this year brings us some rest from this awful virus. Stay safe and with thoughts - Hilary
Hi Hilary!
They're predicting we'll hit 100 degrees here today. Ugh. The gorgeous red cardinal that stopped in for a sip from the dog's water bowl seems unconcerned in a scene not quite as lovely as your post, but it will have to do ;-)
I'll be thinking of carpet gardens and walls of love for the rest of the day. Thanks for the happy thoughts!
Jolly cold. I like it.
Cheers,
Our weather has been very up and down, hot one day, cold the next.
Spring is not in a hurry overthere I heard. Here we have the warmest autumn I think summer has moved
Love the beautiful spring poem
That last line made me think What does it mean? That we have to trust while being patient? I don't know
Hi GBM
Love the poem. Read it out loud, then close your eyes and you'll find yourself in the midst of a beautiful spring day.
For sure all of us need to work on patience. It's not easy when we can't do the things we did before the pandemic.
Lots of love and safe hugs,
Lenny
Well, today seems a bit brighter though showery and it is definitely getting warmer...I hope! Ha, ha!
Spring is full of promise. Here in Florida, it feels way to hot already to enjoy it, though. *sigh*
Patience, Hilary! The warm weather is coming. I really like this poem. Thanks for sharing it. I love the flowers in the garden! All best to you, my dear!
Wonderful poem to start off an early morning.
Lovely poem, and so true about being patient. I try to be patient with important matters, but I’m a work in progress when it comes to the little things. Hope you’re staying warm by sipping tea until it finally feels like spring, Hilary!
Julie
We were in the northern states this time last year, and it snowed. Just flurries, mind you, but still... in May!! The poem is nice. I'm here to say hello. :)
we have to possess our souls in patience
I love this so much and it's a great reminder - while we want things to progress quickly, it takes time.
Elsie
Hi Hilary,
That was a lovely spring poem! We had a few cold snaps here, but now the spring weather is vibrant and beautiful. A lovely breeze is blowing and the leaves are swaying. A perfusion of pinks, whites, and purples are blooming everywhere. Hopefully your weather has warmed up a bit by now. Have a great weekend!
A very uplifting poem for a sunny day. Beautiful weather here in Scotland, but bizarrely we had hail a few days ago.
@ Diedre – well … 100 deg C would be way too hot for me … as you say ‘yugh’! Your cardinal sipping from the dog’s water bowl is a delight to think about. So glad you had a chance to think of carpet gardens and ‘walls of love’ – I so agree: lovely thoughts …
@ Sandra – it is still fairly cold, but the sun is definitely hot – when we see it …
@ Kelly – sounds like ours … today is much better, yesterday was grotty!
@ Marja – Spring is still coming along – the extra light brings the plant growth, now the rain that really helps … us humans could do with a little more softer Spring!
Your question … I think it infers that any gentle movement of the flowers, or the leaves … as they develop and as they move in the essence of the winds, they will be heard by the ear ‘as love’ … wonderfully expressively written …
@ Lenny – hi, so good to see you … and I’m so pleased you took the time to read it out loud and appreciated the sentiment that John Clare was putting across.
Patience is never easy is it … I did learn more when my mother and uncle were both ill … which I seem to have managed to keep hold of now as I age!
@ Debbie – the weather is really strange – the sun is warmer – when we see it … and today is great … so yes ha ha!
@ Chrys – I love Spring … and I can imagine Florida’s weather is not short in coming forward … I think I prefer our weather!
@ Victoria – patience … I do have it! The warm weather is coming … accompanied with short cold showers occurring rather too regularly. Glad you enjoyed the poem … and those Spring, early Summer flowers are so gorgeous …
@ Presstfortime – so pleased you enjoyed the read …
@ Julie – don’t we all need patience … I’ve always rushed onwards … now, not so much – which is a good thing. Yup still sipping the tea and looking forward to enjoying more settled weather … but that’s fine – summer will come along.
@ Rosey – the weather is temperamental … which I have to admit I enjoy – but just occasionally I’d be happier if it could tell us what it’d be like! We’ve had snow this month too …
Thanks for the hello … I’m just being slow …
@ Elsie – thanks … we always need to think around things, don’t we? We forget … but it’s easier to be patient along the way …
@ Michael – I’ve noted your weather has been as odd as ours this year – but the Spring continues on, bringing us its vibrancy and beauty … our countryside bringing us new life for 2021 … sounds like you’re in a beautiful place … we’re still waiting – but the sun is definitely warmer …
@ Nick – lovely poem as you say – the weather where you are, up in Scotland, has been really odd too … but days have their beauty – without the hail, snow or plain cold showers – life giving, I know.
Cheers – thanks to you all … so grateful for your comments – all the best … Hilary
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