Tuesday 3 April 2012

April Post - 'By Invitation Only'....


...A tribute to Mother Nature

SPRING  -  GARDEN  -  EASTER WEEK


Eduard Moerike:

Er ist's

Fruehling laesst sein blaues Band
Wieder flattern durch die Luefte;
Suesse, wohlbekannte Duefte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land.
Veilchen traeumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen.
- Horch, von fern ein leiser Harfenton!
Fruehling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab ich vernommen!


The stark simplicity of this poem that unfolds so effortlessly in poetic magic
has made a standout in Eduard Moerike's literary achivement.
It has become the favorite German spring poem.

The first impression is one of space into which the speaker is being drawn.
He is standing in a tranquil landscape, highly attentive to what is going on around him.
He then attempts to draw to himself what he sees in the distance observing 
minute movement in distant space: the fluttering blueness in the air becomes a ribbon,
thus transforming the imagined into a concrete presence.
The atmosphere is in gentle movement spreading the familiar scent.
The violets are coming to life, as if they were ushering in the spring.



It's Him!

Spring displays His ribbon blue
fluttering through air's expanses,
sweet, familiar scents over fences
touch with hope the lands anew.
Violets still dreams,
dreams of soon appearing.
- Hark!  a harp sounds softly from afar, it seems!
Yes, my Spring, it's You!
You I have been hearing!

(a loose translation of my favorite spring poem by Eduard Moerike, 1829)

The poem has to do exclusively with sense experience.
First with the sense of sight, then the sense of smell, 
and lastly the sense of hearing which triggers a feeling of jubilation,
convincing the speaker that his expectant longing is about to be fulfulled.
Satiated with sense experience the speaker bursts forth with his first self-conscious
utterance with "Oh Spring, it is you".
Each of the last two lines is punctuated with the sign of joy, an exclamation point. 



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*

Plant a Garden

by Edgar A. Guest



If your purse no longer bulges
and you've lost your golden treasure,
If times you think you're lonely
and have hungry grown for pleasure,
Don't sit by your hearth and grumble,
don't let mind and spirit harden.


If it's thrills of joy you wish for
get to work and plant a garden!


If it's drama that you sigh for,
plant a garden and you'll get it
You will know the thrill of battle
fighting foes that will beset it
If you long for entertainment and
for pageantry most glowing,


Plant a garden and this summer spend
your time with green things growing.



*


If it's comradeship you sight for,
learn the fellowship of daisies.
You will come to know your neighbor
by the blossoms that he raises;


If you'd get away form boredom
and find new delights to look for,


Learn the joy of budding pansies
which you've kept a special nook for.


*


If you ever think of dying
and you fear to wake tomorrow
Plant a garden!  It will cure you
of your melancholy, sorrow


Once you've learned to know peonies,


petunias, and roses...


you will find every morning
some new happiness discloses.



Plant a Garden!  
by Edgar A. Guest, 1881 - 1959


***

"Easter expectation...."


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please popover to Marsha's blog
here

to visit all  friends who participate on the monthly post....




*



A bientôt...

27 comments:

  1. This is exactly what I feel when I'm surrounded by growth in my own garden. I find peace, contentment, balance and happiness. Thank you, Karin, for participating in By Invitation Only, I am so happy to have you as a friend. What a beautiful post you've done for us today.

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  2. As always- beautiful beyond words, my friend.

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  3. How is beautiful!
    I've got snow.

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  4. Beautiful photos and words.

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  5. Liebe Karin,
    bei uns ist der Frühling noch etwas zurückhaltend mit seiner Blütenpracht!

    Deine *blaues Band* Impressionen sind (wie immer) wunderschön!

    ♥ Franka

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  6. Such a beautiful post Karin... exquisite words and so apt... xv

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  7. Beautiful words, pictures and little princesses ...

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  8. Beautiful images and words. Our autumn is quite warm and our gardens, dry. Nature is so fickle.
    Bisous

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  9. Such loveliness in image and word! Thank you for sharing what you hear when you read this poem!
    I am a new follower.
    Yvonne, a fellow by invitation only

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  10. Exquisite words and photos to welcome Spring and Easter.
    Lovely!
    XO

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  11. What gorgeous photos. And finding all those poems, what a wonderful gesture.

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  12. Oh Karin,
    What a stunning post and so perfect for our BIO subject this month. Such beautiful images to go with such wonderful words. I love my garden and get so much from it.
    ....and, many thanks for your lovely comment today.
    Have a lovely week Karin. XXXX

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  13. Hi Karin... what a beautiful post filled with so much truth if you have planed a garden and know that the poets words are absolutely true to the very letter. The images a gorgeous and I soo sooo wish that Peonies did better over here. The are my favourites but sadly the do not seem to flourish here and it is so hard to find any to try anayway!

    Thanks for your lovely comment

    Veronica

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  14. Absolutely fabulous imagery. Every pic so gorgeous. I'm waiting expectantly for Easter too. I just love it. XO, Mona

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  15. Karin I adore your post. such gorgeous images and beautiful words.

    Paul

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  16. This was such a gorgeous post! Thank you for these images and these lovely poems!
    I just loved it!
    Warmly,
    Angela

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  17. Fantastic post, Karin! Every photo is a gem I want to linger over. I wish you and yours (including Oskar, of course) a very happy Easter! xo

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  18. Karin, this is so charming....the words and images....and my sentiments exactly when it comes to gardening....pure pleasure !! N.xo

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  19. Your garden is truly beautiful in its design, its flowers, and its spirit. A well lived garden . I will be visiting Dordogne with my parents on April 17th and 18th . We will be staying in a small village of Meyrals for one night. Is this near you? Your invitation is so nice, i would love to meet you over tea, coffee? My email: fgardner@interieurscom

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  20. What a charming post ! Love the poem by Moerike ! Happy Easter ! Gail x

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  21. Most lovely, Karin

    Susan K

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