Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday Morning Poetry

Missouri spring
Afternoon Tea


Please you, excuse me, good five o'clock people,
I've lost my last hatful of words,
And my heart's in the wood up above the church steeple,
I'd rather have my tea with the birds.

Gay Kate's stolen kisses, poor Barnaby's scars,
John's losses and Mary's gains,
Oh! what do they matter, my dears, to the stars
Or the glow-worms in the lanes!

I'd rather lie under the tall elm-trees,
With old rooks talking loud overhead,
To watch a red squirrel run over my knees,
Very still on my brackeny bed.

And wonder what feather the wrens will be taking
For lining their nests next Spring;
Or why the tosses shadow of boughs in a great wind shaking
Is such a lovely thing.
~ Charlotte Mew

You can find out a bit more about the poet Charlotte Mew by reading this post.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

such a lovely thing the poem. happy sunday to you!

auntpearl said...

Just lovely...Gives a moment of reflection.
Hope you are doing well.
Take care,

Anonymous said...

I'd rather have my tea with the birds.

S. Etole said...

Me, too ... what a lovely spring thought.

Amy said...

Such a lovely poem ... perfect for a sunshiny day ... where all is quiet outside my door, yet tragedy swirls all around ...

Jennifer Richardson said...

me too!
cheers to feathers,
and branches
and sky:)
-Jennifer

Ragamuffin Gal said...

This poem is perfect for that perfect blue sky ~ beautiful Relyn.

tracy said...

What a pretty poem to go with such a lovely photo. Happy Sunday!

Anonymous said...

Just perfect - thank you!

Tracy said...

Tea with birds and elms...I'll share my cup happily with them too! :o) This is LOVELY, Relyn... Happy Day ((HUGS))

Marilyn Miller said...

Oh yes, tea with the birds is where I have been the past few days. Sitting by a window, sipping my tea in the early hours of the morning, and watching the birds. Oh the magnificent eagles, the blue jays, the flickers, and so much more. I like this poem, that is for sure. From the tealady.

HKatz said...

"I've lost my last hatful of words" is a brilliant line.

I like how the poem combines a kind of cheeriness and love of spring, nature and new things... with something under the surface that's just a little darker? Gay Kate's stolen kisses, poor Barnaby's scars,
John's losses and Mary's gains,
Oh! what do they matter, my dears, to the stars
Or the glow-worms in the lanes!

(a kind of indifference and smallness to people's daily struggles? - but the positive side to it is how the poem puts these things in perspective as well and a need to just savor nature...)

spread your wings said...

wonderful poem, incredible photo

Patti said...

Beautiful- tea with the birds...or tea at ALL!!! :)

Oldies, but Goodies