FRIDAY 3RD JULY

A GARDEN SONG by Henry Austin Dobson (1840-1921)

Here, in this sequestered close,
Bloom the hyacinth and rose;
Here beside the modest stock
Flaunts the flaring hollyhock;
Here, without a pang, one sees
Ranks, conditions, and degrees.

All the seasons run their race
In this quiet resting place;
Peach, and apricot, and fig
Here will ripen and grow big
Here is store and overplus, -
More had not Alcinous! *

Here, in alleys cool and green,
Far ahead the thrush is seen;
Here along the southern wall
Keeps the bee his festival;
All is quiet else - afar
Sounds of toil and turmoil are.

Here be shadows large and long;
Here be spaces meet for song;
Grant, O garden-god, that I,
Now that mood and moment please, -
Find the fair Pierides! **

* In Greek mythology Alcinous was a very wealthy ruler of the island Scheria. He features in the story of Jason and the Argonauts.

** The Pierides were the nine daughters of the King of Emathia. They challenged the Muses to a song contest. The Muses won and changed the girls into magpies. Confusingly, the Muses themselves are also known as the Pierides.

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This is a photograph of Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy lived from 1799 till 1808.



The house is a great tourist attraction, and Jean and I visited it on one of our Lake District Holidays.

Originally an inn called the Dove and Onion, it’s thought that it was probably built in the early part of the 17th century. It was while they lived at Dove Cottage that William produced his finest works.

This poem "Dove Cottage Garden" he wrote just before he and Dorothy were leaving home for a few months.

Sweet Garden-orchard! of all spots that are
The loveliest surely man hath ever found.
Farewell! we leave thee to heaven's peaceful care.
Thee and the cottage which thou dost surround ...

Dear Spot! whom we have watched with tender heed,
Bringing thee chosen plants and blossoms blown
Among the distant mountains, flower and weed
Which thou hast taken to thee as thy own ...

O happy Garden! loved for hours of sleep,
O quiet Garden! loved for waking hours.
For soft half-slumbers that did gently steep
Our spirits, carrying with them dreams of flowers ...

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This is a rather spectacular painting by the Chinese artist Yun Shouping (1633-1690)



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Live more and more in the present, which is ever beautiful and stretches away before and beyond the limits of the past and the future. (Meher Baba 1894-1969)

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The music here is the Humming Chorus from Madam Butterfly by Puccini, provided by Andre Rieu the Dutch violinist, conductor and composer.



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