Winter

Winter

Monday, April 25, 2011

Spring Again


I was doing school this morning with the boys, and
as we are at the end of the year and I am pretty much finished
with the the things I hoped to get accomplished. I
dug out my Mcguffey's Fifth Reader just to see what I could find.

I found this poem by a lady named Celia Thaxter I thought it was
lovely so I thought I would share it with you. She lived in a Lighthouse
cottage on a group of islands called the Isles of Shoals about 10 miles from shore.

Spring Again

I stood on the height in the stillness
And the planet's outline scanned,
And half was drawn with the line of sea.
And half with the far blue land.

With wings that caught the sunshine
in the crystal deeps of the sky,
Like shapes of dreams, the gleaming gulls
went slowly floating by.

Below me the boats in the harbor
Lay still, with their white sails furled;
Sighing away into silence,
The breeze died off the world.

On the weather-worn, ancient ledges
Peaceful the calm light slept;
And the chilly shadows, lengthening,
Slow to the eastward crept.

The snow still lay in the hollows,
And where the salt waves met.
The iron rock, all ghastly white
The thick ice glimmered yet.


But the smile of the sun was kinder,
The touch of the air was sweet;
The pulse of the cruel ocean seemed
Like a human heart to beat.

Frost-locked, storm-beaten, and lonely,
In the midst of the wintry main,
Our bleak rock yet the tidings heard;
"There shall be spring again!"

Worth all the waiting and watching,
The woe that the winter wrought,
Was the passion of gratitude that shook
My soul at the blissful thought!

Soft rain and flowers and sunshine,
Sweet winds and brooding skies,
Quick-flitting birds to fill the air
With clear delicious cries;

And the warm sea's mellow murmur
Resounding day and night;
A thousand shapes and tints and tones
of manifold delight,

Nearer and ever nearer
Drawing with every day!
But a little longer to wait and watch
'neath skies so cold and gray;

And hushed is the roar of the bitter north,
Before the might of the spring,
And up the frozen slope of the world
Climbs summer, triumphing.

Have a lovely day,
~Kim~

12 comments:

Dog Trot Farm said...

Kim, One of the items on my "bucket" list is to visit Appledore Island and tour the gardens of poet Celia Thaxter. Prior to reading your latest post, I had been perusing the boat schedule to Appledore! Someday my friend we are to meet!

Miss Debbie said...

Lovely poem and your pictures illustrate it beautifully!

Kim said...

I echo Miss Debbie's comment. Beautiful. Have a great week friend.

Sue said...

Hi Kim, beautiful poem and your photos are beautiful too.
Congratulations on your win of the wool. I am anxious to see what you will do with it.
I know you had a beautiful day yesterday, I thought of you.
Hugs,
Sue

Julia said...

Kim, I'm happy that your classes are coming to an end shortly. Congratulation on winning the dyed wool. Great photos as usual. Spring has sprung here finally. Today was amazingly warm. Have a great week. JB

myletterstoemily said...

your boys are so blessed to have you expose them to such
gorgeous poetry. i LOVE the mcguffeys!

Uncovered Ruby said...

That was simply beautiful! I loved all your pictures in between, very fitting..
Lisa ;-)

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Thanks for the poetry...that is one thing I haven't been very good about, except silly poems. Your pictures were great with it...have a great week.

Kessie said...

The older I get, the more I love poetry. And I see why they quote the Mcguffy reader in Laddie all the time. :-)

Debbie said...

Oh I enjoyed that! I love poetry in the first place and the pictures went so well with it. Have a beautiful day Kim! HUGS

no spring chicken said...

Ooh that was beautiful. I do believe we'll detour from scripture for our copy book today. I don't feel guilty about that at all as these words were obviously inspired!

I want to clarify something that may have been misunderstood on my post today. Monte and Hillary were married last July. Monte lived in and prepared their home for a little over a month before bringing home his bride for the first time. They courted for 3 years before he proposed! They both love the Lord and honored Him in their relationship. I hope I didn't give another impression! ;)


Blessings, Debbie

Kris said...

delightful post and it feels good to be reading your post again.. have a happy day filled with lots of joy..