Just Peeking Over The Parapet.

Wandering around at the weekend I got my first real sense that Spring is just beginning to stretch and yawn as she awakens from her slumber. I spotted a little clump of Forget-Me-Nots in a sheltered sunny spot and lots of these.

Hazel catkins [only found out what type they were today]. Catkins come from the obsolete Dutch word katteken meaning kitten because of their resemblance to kitten tails. They are acknowledged as one of the first signs of Spring.

Rootling around today I came across this poem by Margaret Fairless Barber [1869-1901] who wrote under the pseudonym of Michael Fairless. Hope you enjoy it.

Spring

Hark how the merry daffodils

Fling golden music to the hills!

And how the hills send echoing down,

Through wind-swept turf and moorland brown, 

The murmurs of a thousand rills

That mock the song-birds' liquid trills!

The hedge released from Winter's frown

Shews jewelled branch and willow crown;

While all the earth with pleasure trills

And 'dances with the daffodils'.

Out, out ye flowers! Up and shout!

Staid Winter's past and Spring's about

To lead your ranks in joyous rout;

To string the hawthorn's milky pearls,

And gild the grass with celandine;

To dress the catkins' tasselled curls,

To twist the tendrils of the vine.

She wakes the wind-flower from her sleep,

And lights the woods with April's moon;

The violets lift their heads to peep,

The daisies brave the sun at noon.

The gentle wind from out the west

Toys with the lilac pretty maids;

Ruffles the meadow's verdant-vest,

And rings the bluebells in the glades;

The ash buds change their sombre suit,

The orchards blossom white and red-

Promise of Autumn's brighter fruit,

When Spring's voluptuousness had fled.

Awake! awake, O throstle sweet!

And haste with all your choir to greet

This Queen who comes with wakening feet.

Persephone with grateful eyes

Salutes the Sun- 'tis Paradise:

Then hastens down the dewy meads,

Past where the herd contented feeds,

Past where the furrows hide the grain,

For harvesting of sun and rain;

To where Demeter patient stands

With longing lips and outstretched hands,

Until the dawning of one face

Across the void of time and space

Shall bring again her day of grace.

Rejoice, O Earth! Rejoice and sing!

This is the promise of the Spring

And this is the world's remembering.

Arilx