First, the opening lines from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, here translated from the medieval to the modern.
When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
and the second poet, none other than T.S. Eliot, who deplores March in these two lines
April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of dead land...
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| Teodoro S. Gruhl publicdomainpictures.net |
Kerry asks us to take on one of these two opposing opinions about the month of April, and write a poem about April as we see it, or as we choose to see it this weekend — we are free to present our own opinions or to side with one of these poets for today's poem.
For most of my life, I would have agreed with Chaucer. April on the west coast of British Columbia is a glorious time of year.
Now, however, I live on the Canadian prairie, where April is considered part of winter, and no planting is done until after mid-May, so I will have to go with T.S. Eliot this weekend.
April is the cruelest month indeed
with sunshine but no flowers, and no seed
can be planted out of doors, but only in
greenhouses, or heated rooms within
the tight controlled climates of our lives.
The beekeeper hears no stirring in his hives,
while kids and calves and others take a chance
leaving the warmth of mother's womb to dance
upon the freezing, frozen prairie ground.
Kay Davies, March 30, 2013
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| Michael Stirling publicdomainpictures.net |
15 comments:
sunshine but no flowers..
That line really sums up the conditions you describe beautifully.
Still cold here too Kay, but melting slowly ~ Those prairie blooms do take a long time to wake ~
Happy Easter ~
I hate to tell you but today my daughter was suntanning in the yard in her shorts and tank top, getting a great start on her tan. The hummingbirds buzzed at the feeder, bumblebees were in all the blooming heather, and we ate out on the deck. I am so sorry, Kay!
It is warm here, but I recently traveled further north and experienced a spring snow. May spring awaken soon where you are.
@ Sherry — That's okay, kiddo, I simply choose not to believe you. You can't have suntanning and hummingbirds 'way up-island. Impossible. Tell me something else. LOL
Luv, K
No snow here!! Of course. But we're not getting the rains either. Still in a drought.
Hope you're feeling much better these days. I've been wondering about you.
i hear you! sigh
April is probably more on the barren side here in Norway too. Even if the farm traffic has picked up lately!
This is really beautiful, Kay!
No stirring in the hives. But soon there will be. Very soon.
Sweet.
Cold here. Happy Easter!
I have to agree with you there, Kay!! If I return to Atlantic Canada in April, I am always disappointed and spend most of my days curled up in a chair in front of the woodstove!!!
I feel your pain, Kay. They have forecast snow flurries this evening. I was so excited to see the very first crocus poke his nose out yesterday, but he'll be regretting it in the morning! :)
That sounds like a a long winter if it goes into April!! At least you're getting closer to spring!
thanks for the education and entertainment, great poetry
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