Friday, April 9, 2010

Who Has Seen The Wind? By Christina Rossetti

'Stairway to  Heaven' at Hodges Gardens State Park

'Wind on Water' at Hodges Gardens

'Orange Poppies' - Flower Sunshine at Hodges Gardens

++++++++++

Who Has Seen the Wind?
By Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you.
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I.
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

************************************

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) was a British writer. She is one of the most important Victorian women poets, famous for "Goblin Market," and other works.  Writing about that religiousity and sensuality in Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market," Virginia Woolf once said: "Death, oblivion, and rest lap round your songs with their dark wave." But then, "a sound of scurrying and laughter is heard." And, Woolf says: "You pulled legs; you tweaked noses. You were at war with all humbug and pretence."

**********************************

This poem about the Wind is one of the first poems I ever memorized and on a windy day like today, it always comes to my mind and does a little soft shoe tap dance in my head.  A friend(?) of mine posted a poem about the wind today which brought this poem to mind.  I tried to comment on it but could not because I've been 'unfriended' apparently.  It seems I lost a good friend by trying to protect another friend's heart.  Doesn't seem fair, does it?  But I guess that's life. 

It's a cool, sunny, totally stoned day here in the deep South.  I'll be planting tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, basil and baby Moonflowers before dark.  (Well, Ray will do the back work and I'll supervise.)  Yes, Spring has officially moved in and unpacked her suitcases.  I welcome her joyously, with open arms. 

I hope your day is as beautiful as mine is today.

Blessings,

Marion

+++++++++++++++++

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke


++++++++++++++++
 
I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout


+++++++++++++++
 
April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~Hal Borland


++++++++++++++
 
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood
 
++++++++++++++
 
Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. ~Chinese Proverb
 
+++++++++++++

11 comments:

ds said...

I, too, love this poem. So glad you shared it! Sorry about your friend, but happy happy about your spring (it is cold here, and rainy, but the blossoms are on the trees. The seasons arrive whether we're ready for them or not. But I prefer Spring to come before Summer!)Have a wonderful weekend!

Marion said...

Thank you, ds. Yes, Ms. Spring is prissing about gloroiously this year, thank God! You have a wonderful weekend, too. Blessings!!

Woman in a Window said...

Atwood's comment makes me think of my daughter's response this morning at smelling her mittens. It snowed again yesterday and brought winter back. She landed with ice and snow, thick and heavy. My daughter smelled her mittens thoughtfully and said, "They smell like wet dog." I said, "Yes, it is wool." And what I thought, is that while it is at first smell, something we might reject, it is a good good smell.

Friendship on all sides is too important to unfriend anyone, our hearts too volatile. Love only, Marion. Lots going your way.

xo
erin

Marion said...

Thank you, Erin, for your love and for your poetic comment about your daughter. As one who has been unfriended by a friend of 25 years over, well, nothing, I can tell you that I will never, ever carelessly toss away a friend. No, they're too precious to me. I do love you. Blessings!!

Janelle Goodwin said...

Spring has officially unpacked her suitcases. I love that sentiment and will remember it all day since it is a sunny, glorious day. Blessings to you, Marion!

Marion said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit, Janelle. Enjoy your sunshine!!! When we have a humidless day here, it's like an unexpected gift. Blessings!

Kelly said...

Beautiful orange poppies!!!

Careful with the planting. Or maybe I should tell Ray to be careful. He might not want to let you get the shovel in your hands (LOL!).

Marion said...

Kelly, he was watching his back the one time I got a shovel in my hand. Tee-Hee. (Poor Ray.) LOL! Blessings!

quid said...

ML..

This was one of my first poems ever memorized, as well. We'll have to compare years; as you know we probably were doing the same thing as girls in two very different parts of the country... how many times have we figured that out.

Today is beautiful here. I am doing nothing but enjoying. Had a little health care crisis with a friend this morning. Am trying to get over it.

Your blog helped.

quid

Marion said...

Yes, Q., we need to compare notes sometime since we're both such young boomers. LOL! I hope your friend is doing okay. It's beautiful here, too. I went to an herb sale this morning and had Ray digging holes and tilling my beds for hours. He's asleep now, tuckered out. I'm pooped from supervising him. Love & Blessings!

Fireblossom said...

Whew, made it! This post has been teasing me from my sidebar at Word Garden for a couple of days now, but this is the fist time I had time to come see! Christina is my second favorite poet ever, right after Emily Dickinson. I just adore her.

I LOVE the journal cover in your newer post! It's really cool! I think I see Beatrice there, don't I?