Fairer Still

Woke up with these words on my mind:

"Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands
Robed in the blooming garb of spring -
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing."

Of course those words are from the old hymn, "Fairest Lord Jesus." Here's a link that gives some info about the history of this song.

The woodlands have truly been beautiful as the trees have bloomed, each in its turn. We don't have any dogwoods around here, but the redbuds, which you can see above, were gorgeous a few weeks ago. The previous owner of this property planted them everywhere. I counted sixteen redbud trees in bloom just in the yard area, with more out in the woods.

Right now there are some huge trees with white racemes (long clusters) of flowers hanging from them. I think they must be wild cherries. The flowers are appearing before the leaves, so the trees look white. What is particularly stunning is when the trunks of the trees are all covered with Virginia creeper. Beautiful! Makes me think of a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It's Sonnet XXIX of her romantic Sonnets from the Portuguese. I've enjoyed the sonnet style of poetry ever since I was a starry eyed teenager in love with love. Maybe I'll share some of my own sonnets later on in this blog, but for now, here's Elizabeth B. B.

I think of thee!—my thoughts do twine and bud
About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
Put out broad leaves, and soon there 's nought to see
Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood
I will not have my thoughts instead of thee
Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,
And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee
Drop heavily down,—burst, shattered, everywhere!
Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee
And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
I do not think of thee—I am too near thee.