Monday, May 16, 2011

Home-Thoughts From Abroad


Oh to be in England
Now that April's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England - now!

And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent spray's edge -
That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children's dower-
Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower.

Home thoughts from Abroad ~ Robert Browning 1812-1889

13 comments:

Country Gal said...

Lovely photo and poem. I love the gardens in England and the country side. I went there last to visit family in 2001. Have a great day !

Jill D said...

I live in England, near London and spent Sunday gardening in the cold !! Back to work today and yes, you guessed it, the sun is shining and it's warm, lol. Check my blog for English garden photos as I was in Corwall a couple of weeks ago and visited Tregwainton, near Penzance, and all the Rhodedendrons and Camellias were in bloom, spectacular.
Jill x

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Beautiful photo and poem Jo. Some day I would love to visit England....

Deanna said...

beautiful description of what you have been blessed to experience and see first hand yourself.
God bless!
d

Diane at My Cottage Garden said...

Lovely poem and photo. You must really miss England, especially at this time of year. But you have your lovely English gardens in your new home!

Doc said...

Wonderful poem, someday I hope to take my wife and show her village I grew up in, I think she will enjoy the history of it all.

ann said...

Browning speaks to my heart. I long to return to England. Perhaps someday. Beautiful post today. cheers. ann

Stella Jones said...

To some extent we all live in the England we want to live in, don't we? and what's wrong with that. Unfortunately, a lot has changed and there is another England now; one which is not idyllic! If only we could turn the clock back...

annie said...

England is looking beautiful at present! The gardens are full of pink. lilac, white and blue flowers blooming in flower beds or planters or hanging baskets.
It lifts the spirits to pass all the lovely displays!

Barbara Anne said...

What a charming garden and very apt poem. You do find the best pairs of photos and poems, Jo!

May your Tennessee garden bring you the same joy!

Hugs!

roxie said...

Ah, sweet nostalgia. It's best in memory. Reality has chill and dirt and poverty. Nostalgia has all the brightest and lovliest bits. I'm all for a careful cultivation of nostalgia.

Jill said...

Beautiful poem and beautiful scenery.

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Jo, the last time I was in England it was April and it was glorious! My sister and her hubby took me to Cornwall and Devon and then she and I went to Paris. There were flowers everywhere and everything was so green. I just wish we could get our April showers that we missed...even in May! Enjoy your day.
Maura :)