An Ode To Spring

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]

Behold, Spring is here :-) This poem often springs to mind (if you don't mind the pun!) when Spring arrives. Largely because I always remember the wrong words and think it starts 'Oh to be in England, now that Spring is here' but it still fits the occasion. The occasion is in fact not me missing Spring days back in England (April showers is a very British concept, that thankfully doesn't seem to exist in Germany, wohoo!), rather I am feeling very 'springy' (in the seasonal sense of the word.) Yes, trees that have looked dead for the past few months are starting to show signs of life again, buds are growing on bushes and flowers are everywhere. Plus, in case nature's contribution were to prove insufficient, there has also been some human contribution to this lets-enjoy-spring feeling. In one week there has been football on the field (hugely enjoyable and justified post-football beer a treat) not once, but twice, 4 aside footie with six 7yr old obnoxious little German boys (we sure showed them) and then, to compensate for excessive activity, strawberries and ice cream, ice cream without strawberries and beer in a beer garden.

All that's missing is a bit of lawn tennis with strawberries and cream and some champers on ice for the spectators. Ah, now that would be the perfect Spring :-) Until that little fantasy of mine becomes reality, I will continue perfecting my McManamanesque footie skills and stuffing my face with ice cream. Nice job if you can get it :-)

[photo courtesy of Miss Rebecca James]