As I sat down to write this months post, I was beset with so many options for a post this month. Today is Easter Sunday, and April Fools Day. April is national poetry month. And lest we forget, April is also known as the 'growing' month, the month where dormant plants begin to show signs of growth.
April 1 is also national one-cent day and national sourdough day. You can view a list of national days in April here: April National Holiday calendar
So let's see if I can find a way to incorporate some of the options for this day and month.
I will start with Helen (Hunt) Jackson's sonnet April:
No days such honored days as these! While yet
Fair Aphrodite reigned, men seeking wide
For some fair thing which should forever bide
On earth, her beauteous memory to set
In fitting frame that no age could forget,
Her name in lovely April's name did hide,
And leave it there, eternally allied
To all the fairest flowers Spring did beget.
And when fair Aphrodite passed from earth,
Her shrines forgotten and her feasts of mirth,
A holier symbol still in seal and sign,
Sweet April took, of kingdom most divine,
When Christ ascended, in the time of birth
Of spring anemones, in Palestine.
In this short poem, most of what makes April special was covered. I also confess, I love poetry and Helen's work in particular. I hope you don't mind.
But that pesky April fools day may be a problem. I've never been one to pull pranks on people, it just seems mean to me. Still, I need to find a way to honor the spirit of the concept. There is the question, where did it come from? I confess the truth is like finding a particular Mary Smith in history; there are just too many to chose from. So, I shall share what I believe is the true story:
As
March winds blew across the land
The
powers that were said this is bad
We
need to give the people hope
So
they sent the sun out at a lope
People
praised the warming day
As
April arrived with bright rays
Then
as all started a joyous dance
One
fool cursed and looked askance
The
bright sky darkened fast
The
people cried, their party past
And
know you know the story true
It
came about because of a fool.
by Doris McCraw
(APRIL FOOLS *GRIN*)
May everyone have a wonderful day, week, month and year. Keep your mind and fingers busy for there are readers to be found and kept happy. I wish everyone a Happy Easter, April Fool's Day and while you're at it, enjoy a piece of sourdough bread for me.
I will leave you with one last poem by Emily Dickinson, friend and contemporary of Helen (Hunt) Jackson:
The Robin is the One
That interrupt the Morn
With hurried—few—express Reports
When March is scarcely on—
The Robin is the One
That overflow the Noon
With her cherubic quantity—
An April but begun—
The Robin is the One
That speechless from her Nest
Submit that Home—and Certainty
And Sanctity, are best
That interrupt the Morn
With hurried—few—express Reports
When March is scarcely on—
The Robin is the One
That overflow the Noon
With her cherubic quantity—
An April but begun—
The Robin is the One
That speechless from her Nest
Submit that Home—and Certainty
And Sanctity, are best
Doris Gardner-McCraw -
Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History
Colorado and Women's History
Member of National League of American Pen Women,
Women Writing the West,
Pikes Peak Posse of the Westerners
Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet
For a list of Angela Raines Books: Here
Photo and Poem: Click Here
Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here
There's a lot going on in April I see. One thing is for certain, it's a beautiful month for flowers and the renewal of life.
ReplyDeleteI've never know a time when April Fool's Day and Easter happened on the same day. I wonder how often that comes around?
I enjoyed the photos and the poems.
A delightful post, Doris. Happy Easter!
And Happy Easter to you Sarah. When I sat down to write this post, it just felt like it needed to be light and fun, like the beginning of Spring.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the post and thanks for stopping by. Doris
Doris,
ReplyDeleteApril Fool's and Happy Easter. Loved your poem!
Thank you Kristy. Hope you had a great day. Doris
DeleteDoris,
ReplyDeleteLovely poems and a lovely tribute to spring.
Thank you Kaye. April is also Earth month, so I figured the poems covered that one too. *Smile*
DeleteDoris
I love poetry, Doris and have lost count of the number I've written and had published over the years. I remember one particular April I was sitting at my dining room table, tax stuff spread all over the table, yet my eyes were lured out the window, focusing on the puffy white clouds against a blue, blue sky. I saw shapes, one of my favourite past times and hence, I wrote a poem about clouds. I loved your selections to celebrate spring. I think of all the poems I've read over the years, my favourite still remins: The Highwayman. I first had that in high school English Lit class and even then I was a romantic and loved story poems and story songs. I love the rhythem of The Highwayman came riding...riding up to the old inn door. I love April and this year, April especially holds great excitement for me. My birthday and in just nine days release of my book. Bring on April. Thanks for posting, Doris.
ReplyDeleteYou have so much to celebrate this month. Congratulations. I've always loved 'The Highwayman',and glad to know it's a favorite of yours.
DeleteI write primarily Haiku poetry, but do love the classics, of which Helen's and Tennyson are favorites. Glad the post brought back such great memories. Doris
Love the poems— especially the origin of April Fools Day. Thanks for the smile!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tracy. Sometimes I just have to write that one 'silly' poem. Glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteHelen and Emily were contemporaries and I love comparing their work. Doris
Doris, I love poetry, and I didn't know April was National Poetry Month! So I'm going to celebrate that by reading a poem every day. LOL These are some great ones you included to honor spring and April Fool's Day. LOL
ReplyDeleteLike Elizabeth, I think The Highwaymen is one of my very favorite poems, and I love Loreena McKennitt's version of it set to music. A poem that's always held fascination for me is by Walter de la Mare, one of my favorite poets--and one that appeared a lot in our elementary English books when we studied poetry--was THE LISTENERS. I still love that poem. His poems always had such timing, rhythm, meter, and meaning. The first poem I remember learning in 4th grade was called WINDY NIGHTS, by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is the first poem I ever had to memorize for a grade. Windy Nights
By Robert Louis Stevenson
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
Happy spring, everyone! Great post, Doris!
Thank you Cheryl. Enjoy those poems. I loved the one you posted. Somehow I can just hear you saying it aloud. It's a great visual, and a great way to end a day.
DeleteApril is also Earth month. Like a said, April is full this year. Here's to many more wonderful Aprils. Doris
Doris, I always enjoy your blogs so much, but this one was special with poems, info and a list of happenings in April, plus.... april for me is always a boost. I get so excited with Spring around the corner, though we've been without electric with high nasty winds, sleet, snow and rain--one after the other. But reading your April food for thoughts, I feel like I'm ready to tackle the outdoors as well as indoors soon--at least once this nasty Mother Nature shapes up. Hoping your Easter was fill with much happiness and love and that you have a wonderful April.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bev, you just made my day. I'm glad you enjoyed the poems, but dang the weather. You are right, Mother Nature has a mind of her own, we just have to hang on.
ReplyDeleteHere's to a lovely spring and an amazing time outdoors. Doris