Monday, March 20, 2006

Poetry Monday

The painting is by John Williams Waterhouse and is called "The Flower Picker". The poem is by Gerard Manly Hopkins who offers a unique perspective on the change of seasons.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). Poems. 1918. 31. Spring and Fall to a young child MÁRGARÉT, áre you gríeving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leáves, líke the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? Áh! ás the heart grows older It will come to such sights colder By and by, nor spare a sigh Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie; And yet you wíll weep and know why. Now no matter, child, the name: Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same. Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed What heart heard of, ghost guessed: It ís the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for.

5 comments:

Jennifer said...

Beautiful poem and painting.

Stephanie said...

Love Waterhouse - so romantic!

Carrie K said...

That is such a great poem, Jenni! I had to read it three times, the last out loud.

Bonnie said...

Oh, I love that poem! It's been a long time since I read it. Funny, I was thinking of a Hopkins poem the other day, the one about the felled aspens ("my aspens dear, felled, all felled..")

Thank you for posting it!

Paula said...

oh Waterhouse paintings are so beautiful and detailed. I fine match up with a Hopkins poem. I truely enjoyed both today! Thank you!